1
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
it is unlawful to set off fireworks within the city limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
a sympathetic look at the unlawful love between a married physician and an adoring colleague
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unlawful
As President Donald Trump has tried to speed up deportations, immigrants have filed habeas petitions alleging unlawful detention and requesting a court determination.
—
Jade Walker, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
Matthew and Gary Weisenberg — the owners of S&W Atlas Iron & Metal, one of the city’s oldest metal recycling facilities — each pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts of unlawful disposal of hazardous waste and public nuisance.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
If the tenant sues for an unlawful lockout, a judge can order that they be let back in.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2025
Two waste companies denied unlawful dumping, with one saying state law allows compostable material to be disposed on farmland and other properties for beneficial use.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Jade Walker, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
Matthew and Gary Weisenberg — the owners of S&W Atlas Iron & Metal, one of the city’s oldest metal recycling facilities — each pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts of unlawful disposal of hazardous waste and public nuisance.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
If the tenant sues for an unlawful lockout, a judge can order that they be let back in.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2025
Two waste companies denied unlawful dumping, with one saying state law allows compostable material to be disposed on farmland and other properties for beneficial use.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlawful
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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Researchers also noted the chatbot engaging in other potentially disturbing—though not necessarily immoral—behavior.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
24 May 2025
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Suggesting that being out of work is immoral, as opposed to the conditions that contribute to people’s ability to work and live, might be a more appropriate source of anxiety.—
Lauren Coulman,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Instead of calling for an expansive probe, however, the president identified just one potential target: ActBlue, the Democrats’ online fundraising juggernaut, which has acknowledged receiving over 200 potentially illicit contributions last year from foreign internet addresses.—
Brian Slodysko,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
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Wetherell wrote that Trump's justification for the tariffs -- both stemming the flow of illicit drugs into the country and resolving a trade imbalance -- is sufficient to satisfy the terms set by Congress.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Rakshasa’s evil beast fits thematically with the park’s nearby 1976 Demon looping coaster.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
28 May 2025
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Evans gives an oversized comedic performance as the church’s charming but evil minister.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Local business owners are complaining about threats and extortion from criminal groups in Morelos.—
Nathaniel Parish Flannery,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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Following his release from prison, Kerik was a vocal critic of the criminal justice system and a staunch ally of Trump.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The sinful acts on display here are a direct result of that disenfranchisement, an effort to reclaim what is still owed, forty acres and a mule, with interest.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2025
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Pope Gregory, believing these demons to be an indication of Magdalene’s excessively sinful past, identified her as an unnamed woman in Luke who wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair.—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The original 2006 film, which was adapted from Lauren Weisberger’s book of the same name, starred Meryl Streep as the powerful Miranda Priestley, Anne Hathaway as fashion newbie Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt as vicious assistant Emily and Stanley Tucci as Miranda’s right hand man Nigel.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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Noem are working every day to get vicious criminals out of our country while activist judges are fighting to bring them back onto American soil.—
Sonam Sheth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Finally, the mint julep is a vile almost undrinkable beverage.—
John Cherwa,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
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Along with receiving vulgar comments in person and people taking her picture on campus, the 18-year-old has received vile and sexist messages after her phone number was posted online.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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