1
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
the lawless rioters were destroying everything in sight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
the level of lawless activity in the territory had reached the point where the authorities felt compelled to act
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lawless
In the continuation of the multi-award-winning gangster saga, set in the lawless streets of Birmingham in the 1900s, Cillian Murphy reprises his role as Tommy Shelby in the film written by Knight, who produces alongside Patrick Holland, Murphy and Guy Heeley.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
The two sides ultimately work out an uneasy truce but without smoothing out the rough layers of whose law governs a lawless land.
—Michael M. Rosen, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Feb. 2025
Advocates call it 'cruel,' 'lawless.’ More than 175 organizations that advocate for women’s and transgender rights blasted Donald Trump in a letter released Tuesday for his requirement that federal agencies only recognize two sexes, male and female.
—Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
By all indications, Trump is planning to run a lawless administration and these unprecedented moves are an alarming first step to put those plans into action.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
The two sides ultimately work out an uneasy truce but without smoothing out the rough layers of whose law governs a lawless land.
—Michael M. Rosen, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Feb. 2025
Advocates call it 'cruel,' 'lawless.’ More than 175 organizations that advocate for women’s and transgender rights blasted Donald Trump in a letter released Tuesday for his requirement that federal agencies only recognize two sexes, male and female.
—Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2025
By all indications, Trump is planning to run a lawless administration and these unprecedented moves are an alarming first step to put those plans into action.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
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As part of a whole-of-government approach to combatting the threat, Treasury remains focused on leveraging all our available tools and authorities to better identify and counter these criminal activities.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
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When Natalia Grace was adopted from Ukraine into the Barnett family as a six-year-old child, no one could have foreseen that the situation would devolve into something that spurred court battles, criminal charges, and multiple documentaries and shows.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
19 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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Legal experts say the moves are likely unlawful, workers complain they were sloppily handled, and the whole process runs the risk of doing long-term damage to critical workings of the federal government.—
Emily Peck,
Axios,
12 Mar. 2025
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The aim is to explore ways to build more confidence and more transparency on our nuclear energy program in return for the lifting of unlawful sanctions.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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On Wednesday, March 12, The Kardashians star was joined by her mother Kris Jenner for the latest episode of her Khloé in Wonderland podcast, where the two looked back at some of Khloé's rebellious childhood moments.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
12 Mar. 2025
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Mickey, tasked with keeping her rebellious sister in line, never had the opportunity to be a kid.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Bark app monitors the network of school district computers and scans for illicit content being downloaded or shared, the charging document reads.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA TODAY,
14 Mar. 2025
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According to the government, Avenatti had threatened to publicize allegations about the shoe company making illicit payments to top college basketball recruits.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The narrative is equally layered, with a thriller’s bones, a satire’s glare, and a comeuppance story’s anarchic spirit.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
17 Mar. 2025
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Fragmented on normal days, the web bordered on anarchic Monday.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In addition to murder, Dustin M. Thompson, 36, is facing charges of felonious assault and possession of criminal tools, court records filed March 5 in Franklin County show.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2025
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Court records show Cook was charged with felonious assault.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This is the latest in a series of disorderly trade policy moves that have stoked fears of tipping the U.S. economy into a recession.—
Lisa Kailai Han,Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2025
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Jennifer, when curating her vintage realm, realized that the term has two sides: while some think of exuberant, flamboyant pieces gathered in one disorderly shop, others imagine vintage as high-end, inaccessible to the average customer.—
Grace Butler,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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