as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
some sociologists specialize in studying the lawbreaking elements of society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code
even something as simple as littering is considered an example of lawbreaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in criminality
activities that are in violation of the laws of the state
an outbreak of lawbreaking plagued the city in the months following the end of the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawbreaking
Adjective
-
The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
30 May 2025 -
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
Noun
-
Since the teen didn't have a criminal record, the state Department of Juvenile Services characterized the offenses as lower-level crimes and allowed him to be released, Hamill said.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2025
-
Tracy Neal is an award-winning reporter who covers criminal justice (courts and crime) for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.—
Tracy Neal,
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
The movie exploited the loosening codes of the time, to make for a more frank depiction of urban criminality.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
31 May 2025
-
In the defense’s opener, Geragos said the money was offered to shield bad publicity, not evidence of criminality.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
Inspired by 1953’s The Wild One starring Marlon Brando, the song and video captures the rebellious spirit of the cult classic, with scenes of a motorcycle being driven on an open road and birds in flight.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
4 June 2025
-
Many historians estimate that at least 15 to 20 percent of the population remained loyal to the crown, some even taking up arms against their rebellious neighbors and fighting alongside the British.—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
-
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
Noun
-
In the meantime, the city has received several reports of property violations in recent years on 925 Grand: piles of bird droppings, falling debris, people entering through unsecured entrances.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
26 May 2025
-
All appeals have been dropped, though the 30 Rock actor and now reality star in January filed paperwork to pursue a civil rights violations lawsuit against the special prosecutors.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
And the sin that Crespo supposedly committed to warrant banishment?—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 May 2025
-
For his part, Misch has not come close to showing remorse nor confessing his sins.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
14 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Lawbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawbreaking. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.
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