1
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
it is unlawful to set off fireworks within the city limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Democratic attorneys general in 22 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming the freeze is unlawful.
—
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
The settlement announcement comes just weeks after Uber sued DoorDash over another unlawful practice.
—Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 26 Feb. 2025
What to watch: Also on Monday, an independent federal oversight agency said that some of the administration's mass firings of probationary workers were unlawful, per a report in Government Executive.
—Emily Peck, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025
The lawsuit claims that the revocation is unlawful, politically motivated, racially biased, and part of a broader pattern of discrimination against non-European and non-white immigrants.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
The settlement announcement comes just weeks after Uber sued DoorDash over another unlawful practice.
—Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 26 Feb. 2025
What to watch: Also on Monday, an independent federal oversight agency said that some of the administration's mass firings of probationary workers were unlawful, per a report in Government Executive.
—Emily Peck, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025
The lawsuit claims that the revocation is unlawful, politically motivated, racially biased, and part of a broader pattern of discrimination against non-European and non-white immigrants.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlawful
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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Even though the Hamas charter directly calls for the murder of all Jews, all people must speak out against the immoral proposal to force an entire population into exile.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
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The Mann Act criminalizes transporting people across state lines for immoral purposes.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
12 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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My Little Puny sparkles in a double role as the prince and the fairy godmother, but Tabitha is a scene-stealing vamping diva as the evil stepmother.—
Barry Levitt,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2025
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That being said, there are numerous dire consequences due to AI performing potentially evil acts or being used by evildoers.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
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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Then there’s the fact that SMS verification codes are also often at the very heart of many criminal operations.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The dominant Christian theology of the Middle Ages held that wealth was inherently sinful in a world where most people toiled in terrible poverty.—
Brian Klaas,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
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The concept of sinful sexuality and the lack of education around it is a clever mechanism to disconnect individuals from their inner source of power.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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More than 80 women went public with horrific tales of his brutal, coercive and punishing tactics, including launching vicious, career-crippling smear campaigns against those who eluded him, from Mira Sorvino to Ashley Judd.—
Scott Huver,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
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Rushdie has since spoken out about the stabbing Rushdie, 77, testified in the Chautauqua County, New York trial and detailed the vicious attack that upended his life.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a reserved spot in hell for the s*** stains pursuing this vile campaign to erase trans people.—
Andrew Sheeler,
Sacramento Bee,
17 Feb. 2025
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Kanye was tweeting vile antisemitism nonstop since last week.—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
12 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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