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
On Tuesday, Garth Hudson, who played organ, accordion, saxophone, and more as a member of the Band—perhaps still the group that best embodies the glorious, lawless amalgamation of styles at the very heart of rock and roll—died at the age of eighty-seven, near Woodstock, New York.
—
Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025
That merely raises the dangerous specter of future lawless conduct by other poor losers and undermines the rule of law.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2025
Instead, he was trafficked across the border to wartorn Myanmar’s lawless Myawaddy region, where he was forcibly put to work conducting online scams.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
This lawless case should have never been brought and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed ...
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025
That merely raises the dangerous specter of future lawless conduct by other poor losers and undermines the rule of law.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2025
Instead, he was trafficked across the border to wartorn Myanmar’s lawless Myawaddy region, where he was forcibly put to work conducting online scams.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
This lawless case should have never been brought and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed ...
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
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Startled awake in present-day Los Angeles, Ted begins his morning at the offices of Black Lane, a law firm he and his friend, criminal defense attorney Stuart Lane (Josh McDermitt), launched more than a decade ago.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
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Nationwide, younger people are more likely to be arrested but California's aging population means fewer individuals in the age groups most associated with criminal activity.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
23 Feb. 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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Trump, Musk so far provide scant evidence for their claims of government fraud Trump's post on Saturday sparked backlash from Democrats, who accused him of using the office of the presidency to justify unlawful or ethically dubious actions.—
Julia Reinstein,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2025
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Their egregious and seemingly unlawful acts compromise our national security and put Americans at risk.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The wildly rebellious press across Europe are a vibrant sign of its free speech.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
14 Feb. 2025
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Luna will meet with rebellious Uranus in a surprising trine, bringing a jolt of excitement and unexpected revelations to your love life.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Toxicology results also found there were no illicit drugs in her system.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
19 Feb. 2025
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That includes caffeine, alcohol, and illicit drugs, says Dr. Lokesh Shahani, a psychiatrist with UTHealth Houston.—
Angela Haupt,
TIME,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The untethered, anarchic, comic brio of Robbins’ novels feels incompatible with today’s world, as though the intervening years have been explicitly designed to stamp out this spirit and replace it with something that can be bought and sold, something governable.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
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Thirty years after his death, his influence can be seen everywhere from the anarchic aesthetics of designers like Rick Owens and Charles Jeffrey to the subversive costumes worn by Lady Gaga.—
Kin Woo Gisela Williams Amy Conway Kate Maxwell,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Court records show Cook was charged with felonious assault.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
24 Feb. 2025
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Axe and Carawan were both charged with felonious aiding and abetting escape and conspiracy to aid and abet escape.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The 55-year-old actor, whose credits also include Better Call Saul and Mr. Show with Bob and David, faces multiple charges including civil disorder and disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2024
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Would-be travelers can also be removed from a Spirit flight for acting disorderly or violent, appearing to be intoxicated or refusing to use a seat belt.—
Caroline Petrow-Cohen,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to lawless
Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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