ill-gotten gains
Stolen wealth, basically
Money or property obtained through illegal, unethical, or dishonest means.
The phrase carries a tone of moral judgment—ill-gotten gains are tainted by how they were acquired: The prosecutor moved to seize the ill-gotten gains from the fraud scheme.
The expression often appears in legal contexts involving asset forfeiture or restitution.
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- extortionObtaining through threats
bribery · smuggling · forgery · heist · robbery · larceny · burglary · swindling
Illicit political gain
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
nepotism · patronage · influence peddling · insider trading · misappropriation · collusion · backdoor deals · skimming
Stolen valuables
- haulPull or carry laboriously
- spoilsSeized war gains
- bootyStolen valuables, especially treasure
- windfallUnanticipated lucky gain
takings · proceeds · payoff · bounty · swag · plunder · stolen property · blood diamonds
Not fair or right
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- unscrupulousLacking moral principles
- nefariousExtremely evil or villainous
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
underhanded · shady · immoral · exploitation · tainted · blood money · dirty money · wrongful
Excessive desire for riches
- covetousnessExcessive desire for possessions
- rapacityAggressive, seizing greed
- acquisitivenessDesire to gather wealth
- hoardingExcessive accumulation of goods
grasping · moneygrubbing · insatiability · profiteering · exploitation · plundering · pillaging · usury
embezzlement
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
extortion · bribery · smuggling · forgery · heist · robbery · larceny · burglary · swindling · fencing
graft
Illicit political gain
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
cronyism · nepotism · patronage · influence peddling · insider trading · misappropriation · collusion · backdoor deals · skimming · political corruption
loot
Stolen valuables
windfall · takings · proceeds · payoff · bounty · swag · plunder · stolen property · blood diamonds · conflict minerals
unjust
Not fair or right
- dishonestInclined to deceive
- unscrupulousLacking moral principles
- nefariousExtremely evil or villainous
deceitful · underhanded · shady · immoral · exploitation · tainted · blood money · dirty money · wrongful · dishonorable
avarice
Excessive desire for riches
- covetousnessExcessive desire for possessions
- rapacityAggressive, seizing greed
- acquisitivenessDesire to gather wealth
hoarding · grasping · moneygrubbing · insatiability · profiteering · exploitation · plundering · pillaging · usury · predatory
- plunderlooting, loot, booty, pillaging, spoils
- dirty moneydirty money, illicit funds, proceeds of crime, filthy lucre, black money
- theftstealing, larceny, steal, burglary, robbery
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- wealthriches, wealth, fortune, affluence, prosperity
- forfeitureforfeiture, civil forfeiture, asset forfeiture, asset seizure, property seizure
ill-gotten gainsearned income
Pay from work
fair wages · legal tender · fair compensation · salary · wages
gains, gaining, regain, gotten, ungainly, gainful, regained, regaining, regains