illicit actions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "illicit actions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to activities that are illegal or morally wrong. Example: "The investigation revealed a series of illicit actions that violated the law."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

MF Global's illicit actions were discovered last fall when the firm faced demands stemming from big bets on European debt.

The New York Times

"The function of all the great biblical prophets was to go to those who rule and say, 'You cannot do this,' to denounce illicit actions even at the cost of their own lives," Mr. de Souza said.

The New York Times

In the context of these real domains, we simulate intruding behavior in several manners that are indicative of various known illicit actions.

Security Informatics

Another FDS based on genetic programming (GP) has been developed in [20] for discriminating the illicit actions from the genuine ones.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

Similarly, Cameron et al. (2009) report that a higher exposure to daily corruption increases the tolerance of the participants towards illicit actions, and a lower disposition to punish these actions.

Latin American Economic Review

The paper [21] demonstrates the usefulness of two clustering methods, namely, hierarchical agglomerative and K-means for identifying illicit actions in the calling profiles by constructing five subscriber profiles from their respective call records.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Put them in a single database, combine them with strong domestic laws and penalties for illicit action, and you have the beginnings of a recipe for success.

Huffington Post

My favorite part of any day, back then, was when I'd flood my system with a little adrenaline, feel the buzz that came from an illicit action, like throwing a rock through the window of an abandoned house, or poring over pictures of naked women in locker rooms, who were surely alone somewhere, fantasizing about me and my acne.

Vice

"Barack Obama should stop with the half-cocked accusations and take action to curb the illicit activity".

The New York Times

The office took no action against the billboard companies, which removed the advertisements, but John Peter Suarez, director of New Jersey's division of gaming enforcement, said companies doing business with overseas gambling sites could be seen as abetting an illicit activity.

The New York Times

(The prison authorities regarded unauthorised congregations of this sort as an illicit "collective action").

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience and the level of formality required. "Illicit actions" is suitable for formal and neutral contexts, but more informal settings might benefit from simpler alternatives like "illegal acts".

Common error

While "illicit actions" is a correct and usable phrase, avoid using it excessively in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler, more direct terms would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "illicit actions" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "illicit" modifies the noun "actions". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it describes actions that are forbidden, unlawful, or morally wrong. It typically serves as the object or subject of a verb, indicating what is being done or what is being acted upon.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "illicit actions" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to describe activities that are illegal or morally wrong. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, it appears regularly in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. Alternative phrases, such as "unlawful activities" or "illegal acts", may be more appropriate in certain situations. When using "illicit actions", ensure that the context clearly defines what makes the actions illicit to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unlawful activities

Focuses specifically on the legal aspect of the actions, emphasizing their conflict with the law.

illegal acts

A more direct and simplified way of stating that the actions are against the law.

criminal behavior

Highlights the nature of the actions as part of a pattern of criminal conduct.

fraudulent schemes

Implies a planned and deceptive nature of the actions, often related to financial or economic contexts.

corrupt practices

Suggests actions that involve abuse of power or trust, especially within organizations or government.

underhand dealings

Emphasizes the secretive and dishonest nature of the actions, often implying betrayal or deception.

nefarious deeds

A more dramatic and literary way of describing evil or wicked actions.

wrongful conduct

A broad term that encompasses actions that are morally or legally wrong.

misconduct

A general term for unacceptable or improper behavior, often in a professional context.

transgressions

Suggests actions that violate moral or religious laws or boundaries.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "illicit actions"?

You can use alternatives such as "unlawful activities", "illegal acts", or "criminal behavior", depending on the specific context.

How can I use "illicit actions" in a sentence?

You can say, "The investigation revealed a series of "illicit actions" that violated company policy" or "The government is cracking down on "illicit actions" related to drug trafficking".

What is the difference between "illicit actions" and "illegal actions"?

"Illicit actions" generally refer to activities that are morally wrong or forbidden, while "illegal actions" specifically refer to activities that are against the law. While often interchangeable, "illicit" can sometimes carry a stronger connotation of moral wrongdoing.

Is it better to use "illicit actions" or "illicit activities"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice between "illicit actions" and "illicit activities" often depends on the specific context and desired emphasis. "Actions" focuses on specific instances, while "activities" suggests ongoing or habitual behavior.