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
On Monday, a coalition of resettlement organizations sued the Trump administration in federal court in Seattle, holding that Trump’s suspension is unlawful.
—
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2025
Trump has a pretty good track record of judicial vindication after engaging in conduct alleged to be unlawful.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2025
In arguing that the president's orders are unlawful and unconstitutional, the plaintiffs said Mr. Trump does not have the power to unilaterally withhold funds that have been authorized by Congress and signed into law.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2025
Maloof and her husband were unable to visit Scotland due to her unlawful detainment, attorney Lee Parks, who represents Maloof, told McClatchy News.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2025
Trump has a pretty good track record of judicial vindication after engaging in conduct alleged to be unlawful.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2025
In arguing that the president's orders are unlawful and unconstitutional, the plaintiffs said Mr. Trump does not have the power to unilaterally withhold funds that have been authorized by Congress and signed into law.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2025
Maloof and her husband were unable to visit Scotland due to her unlawful detainment, attorney Lee Parks, who represents Maloof, told McClatchy News.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 12 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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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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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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Nashville's Bad Idea is a wine bar and restaurant set in a former Presbyterian church that fell into disrepair after a vicious tornado.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
13 Feb. 2025
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By the time Hezbollah launched its bombardment of Israel in solidarity with Hamas' vicious attack on Israel, the militant Lebanese organization had managed to build a significant military capability under the nose of UNFIL and was more robust than ever before.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 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 2 Mar. 2025.
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