unlawfully
In criminal fashion
Unlawfully means in violation of the law.
The term appears frequently in legal contexts: unlawfully detained, unlawfully obtained evidence, entering the country unlawfully.
It carries more formal weight than "illegally" and often implies a specific statute has been broken rather than general wrongdoing.
In an incorrect manner
- illegitimatelyIn unauthorized manner
- unjustlyWithout legitimate cause
- wrongfullyWithout legitimate cause
- invalidlyWithout legal force
unconstitutionally · unwarrantedly · in violation · criminally
Contrary to law
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- burglaryIllegal entry to commit crime
fraud · embezzlement · assault · robbery · larceny · smuggling · kidnapping · arson
Officially disallowed
- forbiddenNot allowed
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- illicitProhibited by law
- interdictedProhibited by decree
proscribed · embargoed · barred · censored · bootleg · pirated · counterfeit · unlicensed
In a hidden manner
- secretlyWithout others' knowledge
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
- stealthilyIn a covert manner
- furtivelyIn a secretive manner
undercover · covertly · undetected · incognito · cloak-and-dagger · infiltration · espionage · smuggled
improperly
In an incorrect manner
- illegitimatelyIn unauthorized manner
- unjustlyWithout legitimate cause
- wrongfullyWithout legitimate cause
invalidly · unconstitutionally · unwarrantedly · in violation · criminally
illegally
Contrary to law
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- theftUnlawful taking of property
burglary · fraud · embezzlement · assault · robbery · larceny · smuggling · kidnapping · arson · perjury
banned
Officially disallowed
- forbiddenNot allowed
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- illicitProhibited by law
interdicted · proscribed · embargoed · barred · censored · bootleg · pirated · counterfeit · unlicensed · unregulated
clandestinely
In a hidden manner
- secretlyWithout others' knowledge
- surreptitiouslyIn a hidden manner
- stealthilyIn a covert manner
furtively · undercover · covertly · undetected · incognito · cloak-and-dagger · infiltration · espionage · smuggled · trafficked
- shady adverbsdishonestly, deceitfully, deceptively, fraudulently, sneakily
unlawfullylawfully
In legal compliance
legally · legitimately · licitly · within the law · permissibly
unlawfullyduly
In proper fashion
properly · procedurally · formally · officially · regularly
- unlawful actionConduct violating legal codes
- unlawful assemblyIllegal group congregation
- unlawful arrestDetention lacking legal justification
- unlawful possessionCriminally holding prohibited items
- unlawful detentionIllegal restraint of freedom
- unlawful entryIllegal access to property