lawless

adjective

law·less | \ ˈlȯ-ləs

Definition of lawless

1 : not regulated by or based on law

2a : not restrained or controlled by law : unruly

b : illegal

Other Words from lawless Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about lawless

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Examples of lawless in a Sentence

the lawless society of the frontier the lawless rioters were destroying everything in sight

Recent Examples on the Web

By traveling in large groups with ample media attention, migrants could travel more safely through lawless regions of Mexico. — Juan Montes, WSJ, "Caravan’s Stymied Passage Leaves Migrant Issue Boiling," 28 Dec. 2018 Live-streaming webcast is not lawless territory and users should obey the law and uphold moral standards. — Gerry Shih, The Seattle Times, "Chinese online star detained for 5 days after singing the national anthem badly," 15 Oct. 2018 End of days Described in several Norse sources (primarily Snorri Sturluson's 13th century Prose Edda), Ragnarök begins with a brutal winter lasting three times longer than usual, driving mankind to lawless desperation. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "“Wolf’s jaw” star cluster may have inspired parts of Ragnarök myth," 16 Nov. 2018 But the caravan panic isn’t just about the idea of a lawless mob swarming the border. — Dara Lind, Vox, "The conspiracy theory that led to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, explained," 29 Oct. 2018 Out there on those long, empty stretches of seemingly lawless road, our country’s love affair with cars dovetailed perfectly with the machismo of the American West. — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, "Long Live Route 66," 19 July 2018 To some observers, this arrangement seems lawless or even undemocratic. — Abbe R. Gluck, WSJ, "Can a Judge Solve the Opioid Crisis?," 7 May 2018 The moves are part of efforts to stop smugglers from operating out of the lawless North African nation. — Washington Post, "Spanish rescue ship told not to respond to distress call," 29 June 2018 Subsequently, all eyes turned to the once lawless western borderland with Afghanistan. — Hollie Mckay, Fox News, "Trump's wrath forces Pakistan to double down on push to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lawless.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.