Illegal
Illegal adjective - Not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport.
Usage example: an illegal pass
Unsportsmanlike and illegal are semantically related. in foul topic. In some cases you can use "Unsportsmanlike" instead an adjective "Illegal", when it comes to topics like unfair.
Nearby Words: illegality, illegally
Unsportsmanlike
Unsportsmanlike adjective - Not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport.
Usage example: was suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct
Illegal and unsportsmanlike are semantically related. You can use "Illegal" instead an adjective "Unsportsmanlike".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- foul and illegal
- foul and unsportsmanlike
- dirty and illegal
- dirty and unsportsmanlike
- improper and illegal
- improper and unsportsmanlike
- immoral and illegal
- immoral and unsportsmanlike
- dishonest and illegal
- dishonest and unsportsmanlike
- unscrupulous and illegal
- unscrupulous and unsportsmanlike
- unethical and illegal
- unethical and unsportsmanlike
Both words in one sentence
- While not illegal, such an act is considered unsportsmanlike by many and likely to be highly controversial.
Source: Rule-Breaker Rule-Namer -
I Shall Taunt You: Possible in a casual game, but considered unsportsmanlike at all levels and outright illegal in tournaments, zero questions asked.
Source: Tabletop Game / Chess -
This lead to the infamous underarm bowling incident in which bowler Trevor Chappell bowled the ball slow underarm, not illegal but incredibly unsportsmanlike, so it was impossible for batsman Brian McKechnie to even score a single run off it.
Source: Down to the Last Play
Cite this Source
Unsportsmanlike and Illegal. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 01, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/illegal/unsportsmanlike
Illegal & Unsportsmanlike. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/illegal/unsportsmanlike>.
Unsportsmanlike or Illegal. 2016. Accessed August 01, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/illegal/unsportsmanlike.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "illegal" and "unsportsmanlike" have occurred on timeline