Over the last decade, Estonia has reported that heroin has largely been replaced by fentanyl on the illicit market.
Source: tatoeba (2352892)
Illicit
/ɪˈlɪsɪt/
Synonyms for "illicit" (149 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (30)
Adjective(4 words)
actionableadulterousagainst the lawanarchicanarchisticanomicback-doorbannedbarredblack marketblack-marketbootlegchargeableclandestinecontrabandcontrary to lawcriminal
Verb(4 words)
Noun(5 words)
Strong matches (45)
Adjective(15 words)
Verb(5 words)
Related words (74)
nonconstitutionalnonlegalnonlicitnonpermissiblenot permittedoff limitsout of boundsoutlawoutlawedprohibitedpunishableruled outsecretsneakytabootabooedtriableunallowedunauthorizedunconstitutional
Show 17 more words
under the banunder-the-counterunder-the-tableunderhandedunlawfulunlicensedunofficialunpermissibleunsanctionedunstatutoryuntouchableunwarrantableunwarrantedverbotenvetoedwrongwrongful
Adjective(14 words)
nonkosheroutlawoutlawedpiratedproscribedquestionablesecretseditiousstolenunauthorizedunfairunlawful conduct policyunlicensed contentviolative
Noun(14 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: unlawful, actionable, adulterine, adulterous, against the law.
- Sentence evidence is available for illicit, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, 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 "illicit".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "illicit"
Keep "illicit" 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 "illicit" 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 "illicit", 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 "illicit" 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
5 entriesMore specific
6 entriesillicit arms dealingillicit drug tradeillicit financingillicit fundingillicit lobbyingillicit surveillance
Collocations
6 entriesillicit arms dealingillicit behaviorillicit drugsillicit fundsillicit profitsillicit trade
Inflections
2 entriesmore illicitmost illicit
Derivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
5 entriesSample sentences
15 total sentences available.
No circumstance, no purpose, no law whatsoever can ever make licit an act which is intrinsically illicit.
Source: tatoeba (2654442)
He uses bitcoins to purchase illicit drugs.
Source: tatoeba (3791485)
That’s why we’ve pushed for transparency and cooperation in rooting out corruption, and tracking illicit dollars, because markets create more jobs when they're fueled by hard work, and not the capacity to extort a bribe.
Source: tatoeba (5774032)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "illicit"?
Closest matches include unlawful, actionable, adulterine, adulterous, against the law.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "illicit"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.