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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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
Among his memorable moments on the set was when Joe Pesci — who played Marv's lawless counterpart Harry — bit Macaulay Culkin, who starred as the child protagonist Kevin McCallister.
—
Rachel Raposas, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024
In other words, if state and local police help ICE agents and other federal officials to conduct violent and lawless raids, those police—and by extension, local taxpayers— may be on the hook for damages to victims.
—Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
But the public reaction has been even wilder, even more lawless.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024
In many ways, The Huntress is a Western, with the protagonist attempting to create a civilised place in a lawless land.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lawless 
Rachel Raposas, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024
In other words, if state and local police help ICE agents and other federal officials to conduct violent and lawless raids, those police—and by extension, local taxpayers— may be on the hook for damages to victims.
—Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
But the public reaction has been even wilder, even more lawless.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024
In many ways, The Huntress is a Western, with the protagonist attempting to create a civilised place in a lawless land.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
-
Homan's comments to Fox News follow a report in The Wall Street Journal in which unnamed sources said that there would be a large-scale raid in Chicago targeting those with criminal backgrounds the day after Donald Trump's inauguration.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
18 Jan. 2025
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Over the course of 49 pages, the plea agreement describes an array of criminal acts involving Saavedra and other unnamed sheriff’s deputies, who allegedly harassed and threatened people to intimidate the crypto mogul’s enemies and further his criminal aims.—
Keri Blakinger,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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The aim was to see how institutions — both public and private — would react to a president giving unlawful or unethical orders.—
Byron Tau,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
-
He was charged with second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and unlawful discharge.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The proposals infuriated members of the Freedom Caucus, many of whom had engaged in those kind of rebellious actions over the past two years.—
Emily Brooks,
The Hill,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Saturn, the planet of structure and discipline, adds a sense of responsibility while rebellious Uranus, the planet of innovation and change, inspires this Air sign to think outside the box and embrace individual freedom.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Though police and prosecutors in at least two counties have joined forces to aggressively tackle the illicit drug together, few agencies in the rest of the region have made investigating fentanyl deaths a priority, the Star found.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
16 Jan. 2025
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Throughout the Biden administration, Cuba has worked with U.S. law enforcement – primarily through its engagement with the FBI as well as through the multilateral body Financial Action Task Force – to combat illicit financing, including the funding of terrorism.—
Jason M. Blazakis,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Compared with the recent boom of espionage series subverting the traditionally self-serious genre — Slow Horses’s lovable losers, Black Doves’s anarchic sense of humor, The Day of the Jackal’s soap-opera goofiness — this preoccupation seems damn near old-fashioned.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2025
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His early uploads were crude by today’s standards—some gymnastics tricks, some parkour, and some mildly anarchic silliness (for example, a 2009 clip of Hobson drinking raw eggs).—
Cal Newport,
The New Yorker,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Walter went to trial again on Oct. 11, 2011, facing the same judge and the same charges of felonious assault and involuntary manslaughter.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
10 Jan. 2025
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He was indicted in July and previously faced two counts of felonious assault and four counts of endangering children.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Signs of a disorderly transition are already evident.—
London Business School,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
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On the stage were more than 20 people, politicians and community leaders, creating the impression of a disorderly group of publicity seekers, two of whom were laughing with each other, another chewing gum.—
Rick Pozniak,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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