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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lawless
The Department of Homeland Security's lawless decision to arrest him solely because of his peaceful anti-genocide activism represents a blatant attack on the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech, immigration laws, and the very humanity of Palestinians.
—
William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
What's harder for the senators to see is how consumers will be protected in such a seemingly lawless realm.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 6 Mar. 2025
The lawless rampage of the second Trump Administration has already touched everything from rangers at America’s treasured national parks to the very pillars of the decades-old transatlantic alliance.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2025
But the spirit of mob procedure seemed to have fastened itself upon the lawless classes, and the grim process that at first was invoked to declare justice was made the excuse to wreak vengeance and cover crime.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
What's harder for the senators to see is how consumers will be protected in such a seemingly lawless realm.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 6 Mar. 2025
The lawless rampage of the second Trump Administration has already touched everything from rangers at America’s treasured national parks to the very pillars of the decades-old transatlantic alliance.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2025
But the spirit of mob procedure seemed to have fastened itself upon the lawless classes, and the grim process that at first was invoked to declare justice was made the excuse to wreak vengeance and cover crime.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
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Immigrant advocates on Monday sued the Trump administration over a rule requiring immigrants to register with the federal government or face criminal prosecution.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2025
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Additionally, financial transactions indicating criminal activity, such as money laundering, contribute to the score.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
31 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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Sullivan was arrested on charges of first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and first-degree reckless endangerment.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
Fox News,
21 Mar. 2025
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He was charged with unlawful restraint and domestic battery.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Stefani’s style influences and stage presence have long catered to a rebellious punk-forward aesthetic.—
WWD Staff,
WWD,
20 Mar. 2025
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Still retaining the playful, rebellious connotations of the first M.A.D. Editions, the new M.A.D. 2 has another spirit. Passport: Explore the finest destinations and experiences around the world in the Forbes Passport newsletter.—
Roberta Naas,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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For many years, China has been the largest source of both legal supplies of the drug – which is prescribed for severe pain relief – and illicit supplies of precursor chemicals that are typically processed in labs in Mexico before the final product is smuggled across the US border.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
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In March 2025, more than 650,000 fentanyl pills were seized, following a record of $300 million worth of illicit fentanyl taken off the streets since 2023.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 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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Officers locked disorderly veterans like these in the cells on the asylum’s top story.—
Made by History,
TIME,
20 Mar. 2025
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Make no mistake, the failure to control the border, and the stress on local communities forced to cope with a disorderly influx of people, is lamentable and needs to be fixed.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
10 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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