1
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
the lawless rioters were destroying everything in sight
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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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Examples of lawless in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
If only there were a place for all this—a forum big and lawless enough to host several generations’ worth of eclectic culinary lore.
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Ruby Tandoh, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2024
Their story of the frontier, for example, focuses on dangers facing women in a lawless men’s world that certainly would not have troubled John Ford.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2024
Driven by a need to uncover the grim secrets hidden in this lawless region, Juan’s girlfriend, Diana, sets out on a determined quest for the truth.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 5 Sep. 2024
Where modern men recreate gunfights between cowboys and tourists can join in the fantasy of living in a lawless land.
—Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lawless 
Ruby Tandoh, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2024
Their story of the frontier, for example, focuses on dangers facing women in a lawless men’s world that certainly would not have troubled John Ford.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2024
Driven by a need to uncover the grim secrets hidden in this lawless region, Juan’s girlfriend, Diana, sets out on a determined quest for the truth.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 5 Sep. 2024
Where modern men recreate gunfights between cowboys and tourists can join in the fantasy of living in a lawless land.
—Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 14 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
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According to a criminal complaint, Smith was at the bar and parked in a Taco Bell parking lot.Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2024
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The defense argued Adams needed resolution of the criminal case by the time the New York City ballot is set in the spring.Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2024
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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Three counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm, a Class 6 Felony.Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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He was charged on Sept. 20 with one count of first-degree kidnapping, one count of second-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, one count of unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary, authorities said.Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Tired of the toxic culture within the group, Veronica teams up with her rebellious new boyfriend, J.D. (played by Christian Slater), and things quickly spiral out of control as their plot to take down the Heathers turns deadly.Jane LaCroix, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
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Her funny dynamics with her siblings were more than relatable with Justin (David Henrie) as the smart, trustworthy kind of uptight eldest sibling, Alex, as the middle child with a rebellious spirit, and Max (Jake T. Austin) as the funny and a bit dumb younger brother.Stephanie Andrade, StyleCaster, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The drug is routinely used by doctors during surgeries, and overdoses typically involve smoking, injecting, or inhaling illicit fentanyl.Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
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Nicky turned to illicit painkillers to deal with the torment of her endometriosis and overdosed after taking pills laced with fentanyl.Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Deutsch argued that the countries of the North Atlantic region offered the most advanced form of this effort to dampen and even eliminate the anarchic causes of war.Karl Polanyi, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022
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And compounding all this is a breakdown of public order among this starving and desperate population, with anarchic fights over food turning deadly.Alexander Smith, NBC News, 6 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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About a month after the shooting, the 46-year-old Coy was arrested and indicted on charges of murder, reckless homicide, felonious assault and two counts of dereliction of duty.Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2024
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Gary Lansky, 73, of Detroit, was charged with assault with intent to murder and felonious assault in the Oct. 8 knife attack.Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 15 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Scott was released on bond after paying $500 on the disorderly intoxication charge and $150 on the trespassing charge.Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Aug. 2024
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Friday morning’s arrest, a few hours later, comes less than two months after Scott was arrested in Miami for disorderly intoxication and trespassing.Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
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