For a start, he was the illegitimate son of an unmarried mother.
Source: tatoeba (499501)
Illegitimate
/ɪlɪˈd͡ʒɪtɪmət/
Synonyms for "illegitimate" (156 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (32)
actionableaffectedagainst the lawanarchicanarchisticanomicapocryphalartificialassumedbantlingbar sinisterbasebornbastardbastard childbastardyblack marketblack-marketbogusbootlegbrummagem
Show 3 more words
Adjective(1 words)
Verb(1 words)
Strong matches (46)
coloredcontrabandcontrary to lawcounterfeitcounterfeitedcriminaldistorteddressed updummyembellishedembroideredersatzfactitiousfakefakedfalsefalsifiedfatherlessfeignedfelonious
Show 16 more words
Adjective(2 words)
Adjective(2 words)
illicitinvalid argument
Verb(1 words)
Related words (78)
lawlesslove childmake believemake-believeman mademan-mademisbegottenmiscreatedmocknaturalnonconstitutionalnonlegalnonlicitoutlawoutlawedpervertedphonypinchbeckpretendedpseudo
Show 36 more words
punishableput onput-onquasiqueerself-styledshamshoddysimulatedso calledso-calledsoi-disantspurioussupposititioussynthetictintinseltitivatedtriabletwistedunallowedunauthenticunauthorizedunconstitutionalunder-the-counterunder-the-tableungenuineunlawfulunnaturalunofficialunrealunstatutoryunwarrantableunwarrantedwarpedwrongful
Noun(9 words)
love childout-of-wedlock childspuriousunacknowledged childunauthorizedunlawfulunrecognized childusurpingwhoreson
Adjective(5 words)
Adjective(7 words)
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: actionable, adulterine, affected, against the law, anarchic.
- Sentence evidence is available for illegitimate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, wiktionary, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "illegitimate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "illegitimate"
Keep "illegitimate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "illegitimate" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "illegitimate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "illegitimate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
10 entriesbogus diplomacounterfeit itemfake productforged documentfraudulent claimfraudulent reportillegal actillegitimate daughterillegitimate soninvalid contract
Collocations
8 entriesillegitimate authorityillegitimate birthillegitimate businessillegitimate childillegitimate claimillegitimate offspringillegitimate powerillegitimate relationship
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
15 entriesSample sentences
28 total sentences available.
Although this chap came into the world in a somewhat impudent fashion, before he was sent for, his mother was pretty; we had fun making him, and the illegitimate fellow must be acknowledged.
Source: tatoeba (1762272)
The king had numerous illegitimate children with her.
Source: tatoeba (3386410)
Sami has an illegitimate daughter.
Source: tatoeba (6738380)
Showing 4 of 28 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "illegitimate"?
Closest matches include actionable, adulterine, affected, against the law, anarchic.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "illegitimate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.