1
as in spurious
born to a father and mother who are not married
despite being illegitimate, Alexander Hamilton rose to greatness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
an illegitimate use of campaign contributions for personal expenses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unreasonable
not using or following good reasoning
made several illegitimate inferences
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illegitimate
Moscow has long sought to discredit the Ukrainian government by claiming that Zelensky is an illegitimate president, although martial law prohibits elections during wartime for safety reasons.
—
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
Meanwhile, an early Jewish polemic claimed that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier nicknamed Panther—perhaps employing a tasteless but pointed pun on the Greek word parthenos (virgin).
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Ukraine and its Western allies have condemned those referendums, held in 2022, as illegitimate.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that the seizure of Russian assets would be illegitimate and erode investors’ confidence.
—David McHugh, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illegitimate
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
Meanwhile, an early Jewish polemic claimed that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier nicknamed Panther—perhaps employing a tasteless but pointed pun on the Greek word parthenos (virgin).
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Ukraine and its Western allies have condemned those referendums, held in 2022, as illegitimate.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that the seizure of Russian assets would be illegitimate and erode investors’ confidence.
—David McHugh, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illegitimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegitimate
Adjective
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Though the book largely revolves around spurious media coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza, El Akkad’s great talent is in showing how, over the past few decades, corporate journalism and western powers have undermined our ability to confront global atrocities.—
Vulture Editors,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2025
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The spurious operation unraveled in a more ignominious way than Costanza’s.—
Michael Loria,
USA TODAY,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between.—
Lisa Beebe,
Los Angeles Magazine,
5 July 2017
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Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
Adjective
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The words were harsh but the logic was not unreasonable.—
George Caulkin,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
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This would not be an unreasonable proposition, considering the U.S. already pledged a security guarantee to Ukraine upon its return of all nuclear warheads to Russia by 1996, based on the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.—
Seung-Whan Choi,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Libya's misbegotten nuclear weapons project reflects this general pattern.—
Jacques E. C. Hymans,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Apr. 2012
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In the literal sense, that world is the misbegotten land of South Africa, but such are the power and truth of Mr. Fugard’s writing that his best plays transcend even the political tragedy of his native country.—
Carmel Dagan,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Federal workers, migrants and transgender troops are among the groups arguing that Trump’s policies are unlawful and will cause irreversible harm if not blocked.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2025
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In January, a federal appeals court declared DACA unlawful, but kept the policy in place.—
Nidia Cavazos,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But there is plenty of institutional trading interest in digital assets, perhaps in part because for many hedge funds volatility equates to profit making opportunities, even if the trading is irrational.—
Javier Paz,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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Amsterdam set up a hotline last month to report concerns about irrational behavior.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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For various examples and further detailed indications about the nature of what is considered illicit prompts (i.e., that you aren’t supposed to use), see my coverage at the link here.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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It's been found in illicit drug supplies nationwide for decades.—
Meira Gebel,
Axios,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Amazon founder was previously married to Mackenzie Scott from 1993 to 2019, and the couple share three sons and an adopted daughter.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
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His adopted daughter, Sandra Correia Lopes, 12, weighs just 12 kilograms, or 26 pounds, and falls sick frequently.—
Sui-Lee Wee,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illegitimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegitimate. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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