Synonyms for illegal

Synonyms for (adj) illegal

Synonyms: illegal

Definition: prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules

Usage: an illegal chess move

Similar words: amerciable

Definition: of a crime or misdemeanor; punishable by a fine set by a judge


Similar words: banned, prohibited

Definition: forbidden by law


Similar words: bootleg, contraband, smuggled, black, black-market

Definition: distributed or sold illicitly

Usage: the black economy pays no taxes


Similar words: criminal, felonious

Definition: involving or being or having the nature of a crime

Usage: a criminal offense; criminal abuse; felonious intent


Similar words: dirty, ill-gotten

Definition: obtained illegally or by improper means

Usage: dirty money; ill-gotten gains


Similar words: embezzled, misappropriated

Definition: taken for your own use in violation of a trust

Usage: the banker absconded with embezzled funds


Similar words: extrajudicial

Definition: beyond the usual course of legal proceedings; legally unwarranted

Usage: an extrajudicial penalty


Similar words: extralegal, nonlegal

Definition: not regulated or sanctioned by law

Usage: there were only extralegal recourses for their grievances


Similar words: hot

Definition: recently stolen or smuggled

Usage: hot merchandise; a hot car


Similar words: illegitimate, illicit, outlaw, outlawed, unlawful

Definition: contrary to or forbidden by law

Usage: an illegitimate seizure of power; illicit trade; an outlaw strike; unlawful measures


Similar words: ineligible

Definition: prohibited by official rules

Usage: an ineligible pass receiver


Similar words: misbranded, mislabeled

Definition: branded or labeled falsely and in violation of statutory requirements

Usage: confiscated the misbranded drugs


Similar words: penal, punishable

Definition: subject to punishment by law

Usage: a penal offense


Similar words: under-the-counter

Definition: done or sold illicitly and secretly;


Similar words: unratified

Definition: lacking legal authority

Usage: the unratified Equal Right Amendment


Visual thesaurus for illegal