1
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
the lawless rioters were destroying everything in sight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
the level of lawless activity in the territory had reached the point where the authorities felt compelled to act
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lawless
Tigray’s borders have become lawless, with the interim Tigrayan administration documenting—but not yet publicizing—evidence of human trafficking.
—
Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2025
Six months into Donald Trump’s second term, a lawless president is solidifying his law enforcement powers to create something most Americans didn’t vote for and don’t want: a police state increasingly robbing residents of their rights and due process.
—Storer H. Rowley, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
And Trump’s lawless immigration raids inspired dramatic changes in public support for immigrants.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2025
This suffering is a direct result of lawless sanctuary city policies.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2025
Six months into Donald Trump’s second term, a lawless president is solidifying his law enforcement powers to create something most Americans didn’t vote for and don’t want: a police state increasingly robbing residents of their rights and due process.
—Storer H. Rowley, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
And Trump’s lawless immigration raids inspired dramatic changes in public support for immigrants.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2025
This suffering is a direct result of lawless sanctuary city policies.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
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The lawsuit and criminal case have now both ostensibly been resolved.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
23 Aug. 2025
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Police in Crawford County, Ga., arrested Delbert Carver, 23, and charged him with disorderly conduct, public indecency/indecent exposure and criminal trespass, according to court records.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
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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He was indicted on two charges, including conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants and unlawful transportation of migrants without legal status.—
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán,
NPR,
25 Aug. 2025
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There are widespread reports of extrajudicial killings, psychological intimidation, unlawful detentions, torture, child kidnappings and disappearances.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Opry had been wary of Cash's rebellious ways for some time, but this was the final straw.—
Audrey Gibbs,
The Tennessean,
28 Aug. 2025
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Cole is the rebellious cool older brother with a secret heart of gold, while Alex is the reliable nerdy and sweet one who wants to come out from Cole's shadow.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The boxer, a son of legendary fighter Julio César Chávez, had a warrant for his arrest in Mexico in connection with allegedly dealing arms, distributing illicit drugs and having cartel ties.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
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In the first three-plus months of the new administration, Coast Guard personnel detained more than 860 aliens and stopped as much illicit cocaine as was interdicted at sea during fiscal 2024, Adm. Kevin E. Lunday told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security on May 14.—
Gidget Fuentes,
USA Today,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Amid the pillaging of homes, Roman magistrates were likely sent to the city to prevent an anarchic type of existence, based on ancient literary sources the authors referenced in the study.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
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But more than anything, anime offers an anarchic aesthetic, one that allows for a sort of unprecedented intensity and tempestuousness, thus offering a unique level of insight.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Matthews later returned to court to face two new counts of felonious assault and one count of misdemeanor assault.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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Nathaniel Joshua-Olson Rockwell, 32, is charged with one count of first-degree murder, three counts of a felony firearms offense and two counts of felonious assault with a dangerous weapon, according to an Aug. 3 news release from Royal Oak Police.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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She was charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly intoxication.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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On Monday, April 14, the Cuban-American actor, 44, was taken into custody and booked at the Broward County Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on disorderly intoxication in a public place and trespassing charges, per jail records reviewed by PEOPLE.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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