as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
had a long history of using illicit drugs
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illicit
O'Brien also did his best to give out illicit gummies to the audience.
—
Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
Law enforcement faces numerous challenges in closing these establishments, and municipalities are forced to create burdensome ordinances to try to keep these illicit practices out of their communities.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Beneath the sanctioned renaissance sprang up an illicit counterculture that defied the Soviet cult of reason with occult religion.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
The committee determined that Gaetz violated a long list of House rules and other standards of conduct, citing prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illicit
Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
Law enforcement faces numerous challenges in closing these establishments, and municipalities are forced to create burdensome ordinances to try to keep these illicit practices out of their communities.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Beneath the sanctioned renaissance sprang up an illicit counterculture that defied the Soviet cult of reason with occult religion.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
The committee determined that Gaetz violated a long list of House rules and other standards of conduct, citing prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illicit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illicit
Adjective
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
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Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between.—
Lisa Beebe,
Los Angeles Magazine,
5 July 2017
Adjective
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Alsup’s order is a temporary measure that requires OPM to notify agencies that its directive was unlawful.—
Ashley Oliver,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
28 Feb. 2025
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Their actions have sparked numerous lawsuits, and on Thursday, a federal judge in California found that the mass firings of probationary employees were likely unlawful.—
Kristin Brown,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Caleb McCray, 23, a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, was charged with manslaughter and felony criminal hazing, according to court records.—
Neil Vigdor,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2025
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The maternal aunt of a 22-year-old Harlem man who died in an upstate prison after an altercation with correction officers that is under criminal investigation demanded answers Friday.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illicit. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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