illicitly

I1L1L1I1C3I1T1L1Y4

adverb

In an illicit manner; illegally, immorally, or inappropriately.

Similar
illegitimatelycriminallyforbiddenlyillegallyunlawfullyimmodestlyimmorallyimproperly
Opposite
licitly
UncommonScrabble 14
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Meanings

adverbillicitly (comparative more illicitly, superlative most illicitly)

comparative more illicitly · superlative most illicitly

  1. In an illicit manner; illegally, immorally, or inappropriately.

    India is merely the geopsychic site for a cluster of undesirabilities that continue to be illicitly desired.

    1999, Balachandra Rajan, Under Western Eyes: India from Milton to Macaulay, page 91

    Synonyms: illegitimately, criminally, forbiddenly, illegally, illegitimately, unlawfully, immodestly, immorally

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbIn an illicit manner; illegally, immorally, or inappropriately.

Similar
illegitimatelycriminallyforbiddenlyillegallyillegitimatelyunlawfullyimmodestlyimmorallyimproperlyincontinentlyindecentlyreprehensiblyunchastelyunseemlyunvirtuouslywickedlywrongfullywrongly

More synonyms by meaning

adverbin a manner disapproved or not allowed by custom

Similar
illegitimately
Opposite
licitly

adverbin an illegal manner

Similar
illegallylawlessly
Also see
criminallyillegallyillegitimatelyimmodestlyimmorallyimproperlyincontinentlyindecentlylawlesslylegallyreprehensiblyunchastelyunlawfullyunseemlyunvirtuouslywickedlywrongfullywrongly

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From illicit + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

illicitly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illicitly

MLA

“illicitly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illicitly. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “illicitly,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/illicitly.

Source: illicitly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.