Illicit
Illicit adjective - Contrary to or forbidden by law.
Usage example: had a long history of using illicit drugs
Illegal is a synonym for illicit in law topic. In some cases you can use "Illegal" instead the word "Illicit" as an adjective or an adverb or a noun, when it comes to topics like illegitimate, unlawful, prohibited, forbidden. popular alternative
Nearby Word: illicitly
Illegal
Illegal adjective - Contrary to or forbidden by law.
Usage example: it is illegal to import those birds into this country
Illicit is a synonym for illegal in unlawful topic. You can use "Illicit" instead the word "Illegal" as an adjective or an adverb, if it concerns topics such as law, illegitimate, prohibited, contraband. popular alternative
Nearby Words: illegality, illegally
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
Cite this Source
Illegal and Illicit. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/illicit/illegal
Illicit & Illegal. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/illicit/illegal>.
Illegal or Illicit. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/illicit/illegal.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "illicit" and "illegal" have occurred on timeline