illicit
Not legally permitted
Illicit means forbidden by law, rules, or custom.
An illicit affair violates marriage vows.
Illicit drugs are banned substances.
The word carries a sense of secrecy—illicit activities happen in shadows, hidden from authorities or disapproving eyes.
Their illicit meetings continued for months.
Officially not permitted
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- outlawedForbidden by law
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- interdictedProhibited by decree
unauthorized · illegal · disallowed · barred · proscribed · off-limits · restricted · impermissible
Relating to major crimes
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
- malfeasantOne who commits wrongdoing
racketeering · trafficking · laundering · embezzlement · bribery · extortion · smuggling · poaching
Romantic entanglement outside commitment
- liaisonConnector between groups
- trystSecret romantic meeting
- adulteryMarried person's sexual betrayal
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
rendezvous · dalliance · forbidden · extramarital · clandestine · secret · paramour · mistress
Concealed from authorities
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- hiddenKept out of sight
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
under-the-table · stealthy · concealed · covert · hush-hush · backdoor · undetected · furtive
Causing or meriting disgrace
- indecentOffensive to accepted standards
- improperLacking in propriety
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
- unseemlyInappropriate for the occasion
disreputable · disgraceful · sordid · tawdry · sleazy · shady · dishonorable · unethical
prohibited
Officially not permitted
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- outlawedForbidden by law
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
interdicted · unauthorized · illegal · disallowed · barred · proscribed · off-limits · restricted · impermissible · unsanctioned
felonious
Relating to major crimes
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
- fraudulentInvolving intentional dishonesty
malfeasant · racketeering · trafficking · laundering · embezzlement · bribery · extortion · smuggling · poaching · forgery
affair
Romantic entanglement outside commitment
infidelity · rendezvous · dalliance · forbidden · extramarital · clandestine · secret · paramour · mistress · lover
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- hiddenKept out of sight
undercover · under-the-table · stealthy · concealed · covert · hush-hush · backdoor · undetected · furtive · sneaky
shameful
Causing or meriting disgrace
- indecentOffensive to accepted standards
- improperLacking in propriety
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
unseemly · disreputable · disgraceful · sordid · tawdry · sleazy · shady · dishonorable · unethical · unscrupulous
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
- tabloidsNational Enquirer, TMZ, Daily Mail, People, Globe
- legality termslegal, illegal, lawful, unlawful, legitimate
- homophoneshomophones, hear, here, see, sea
- prohibitionsban, forbid, prohibition, forbidden, prohibit
- secretssecrecy, secret, trade secret, secrets, confidential
illicitlegitimate
Conforming to accepted standards
sanctioned · endorsed · approved · accepted · blessed
- illicit affairProhibited romantic relationship
- illicit goodsProhibited items for sale
- illicit loveRomantic betrayal of commitment
- illicit drugsUnlawful intoxicating substances
- illicit tradeUnlawful commercial exchange
- illicit traffickingIllegal transport of contraband