Find the word that fits

Illegitimate: alternatives and connections

Begin with the reviewed alternatives, then explore broader connections without treating every related word as an automatic substitute.

Try an example: important law show help change happy
26,102 words currently have published synonym-style alternatives
90,593 searchable synonym connections
350,924 published thesaurus relationships of every type
Start with the meaning

Illegitimate

Not according to law; not regular or authorized; unlawful; improper.

81 useful connections shown 40 reviewed relationships and 41 broader connections.
Best place to begin

Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Similar meaning 24

Adulterine 84% connected

Proceeding from adulterous intercourse. Hence: Spurious; without the support of law; illegal.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Adulterine 84% connected

Proceeding from adulterous intercourse. Hence: Spurious; without the support of law; illegal.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Base 84% connected

Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Base 84% connected

Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Baseborn 84% connected

Born out of wedlock.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Baseborn 84% connected

Born out of wedlock.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Bastardly 84% connected

Bastardlike; baseborn; spurious; corrupt.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Bastardly 84% connected

Bastardlike; baseborn; spurious; corrupt.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Fatherless 84% connected

Destitute of a living father; as, a fatherless child.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Fatherless 84% connected

Destitute of a living father; as, a fatherless child.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Illegal 84% connected

Not according to, or authorized by, law; specif., contrary to, or in violation of, human law; unlawful; illicit; hence, immoral; as, an illegal act;…

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Illegal 84% connected

Not according to, or authorized by, law; specif., contrary to, or in violation of, human law; unlawful; illicit; hence, immoral; as, an illegal act;…

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Left-handed 84% connected

Having the left hand or arm stronger and more dexterous than the right; using the left hand and arm with more dexterity than the right.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Left-handed 84% connected

Having the left hand or arm stronger and more dexterous than the right; using the left hand and arm with more dexterity than the right.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Misbegot 84% connected

Alt. of Misbegotten

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Misbegot 84% connected

Alt. of Misbegotten

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Misbegotten 84% connected

Unlawfully or irregularly begotten; of bad origin; pernicious.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Misbegotten 84% connected

Unlawfully or irregularly begotten; of bad origin; pernicious.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Spurious 84% connected

Not proceeding from the true source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; false; adulterate.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Spurious 84% connected

Not proceeding from the true source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; false; adulterate.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Unlawful 84% connected

Not lawful; contrary to law.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Unlawful 84% connected

Not lawful; contrary to law.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Wrongful 84% connected

Full of wrong; injurious; unjust; unfair; as, a wrongful taking of property; wrongful dealing.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Wrongful 84% connected

Full of wrong; injurious; unjust; unfair; as, a wrongful taking of property; wrongful dealing.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Broader term 3

Issue 76% connected

The act of passing or flowing out; a moving out from any inclosed place; egress; as, the issue of water from a pipe, of blood from a wound, of air fr…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Offspring 76% connected

The act of production; generation.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Progeny 76% connected

Descendants of the human kind, or offspring of other animals; children; offspring; race, lineage.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

See also 4

Illegal 66% connected

Not according to, or authorized by, law; specif., contrary to, or in violation of, human law; unlawful; illicit; hence, immoral; as, an illegal act;…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet provides this as a see-also lexical relationship.

Illegal 66% connected

Not according to, or authorized by, law; specif., contrary to, or in violation of, human law; unlawful; illicit; hence, immoral; as, an illegal act;…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet provides this as a see-also lexical relationship.

Invalid 66% connected

Of no force, weight, or cogency; not valid; weak.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet provides this as a see-also lexical relationship.

Invalid 66% connected

Of no force, weight, or cogency; not valid; weak.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet provides this as a see-also lexical relationship.

Synonym 7

Bastard 92% connected

A "natural" child; a child begotten and born out of wedlock; an illegitimate child; one born of an illicit union.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

By-blow 92% connected

A side or incidental blow; an accidental blow.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Illicit 92% connected

Not permitted or allowed; prohibited; unlawful; as, illicit trade; illicit intercourse; illicit pleasure.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Outlaw 92% connected

A person excluded from the benefit of the law, or deprived of its protection.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Outlawed 92% connected

of Outlaw

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Unlawful 92% connected

Not lawful; contrary to law.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Whoreson 92% connected

A bastard; colloquially, a low, scurvy fellow; -- used generally in contempt, or in coarse humor. Also used adjectively.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Antonym 2

Legitimate 94% connected

Accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements; lawful; as, legitimate government; legitimate rights; the legitimate succession…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records these words as lexical opposites.

Legitimate 94% connected

Accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements; lawful; as, legitimate government; legitimate rights; the legitimate succession…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records these words as lexical opposites.

Explore further

Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.