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
This includes the sacred right to petition for habeas corpus, the ancient writ that allows a person to challenge unlawful detention.
—
Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education told states that federal financial assistance would be halted unless state and local education agencies stopped providing DEI initiatives, which the Trump administration views as unlawful.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Burglary/Breaking & Entering – The unlawful entry into a building or some other structure to commit a felony or a theft.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025
In response, Harvard has filed a lawsuit claiming the government’s actions were arbitrary, unlawful and violated its First Amendment right to free speech.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education told states that federal financial assistance would be halted unless state and local education agencies stopped providing DEI initiatives, which the Trump administration views as unlawful.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Burglary/Breaking & Entering – The unlawful entry into a building or some other structure to commit a felony or a theft.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025
In response, Harvard has filed a lawsuit claiming the government’s actions were arbitrary, unlawful and violated its First Amendment right to free speech.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlawful
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
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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
Adjective
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Even children and adolescents express more willingness to shun and punish moral transgressors than people who do something personally obnoxious or offensive but not immoral.—
Jen Cole Wright,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2025
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Regardless of what transpired between the two cast members, on or off screen, Aspen was unfairly portrayed as an immoral character.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Essence,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The proximity, combined with the abundance of recreational boats, makes illicit travel hard to detect, Brown explained.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Drug overdoses have plagued California, as fentanyl — a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than heroin — is often mixed in with other illicit street drugs.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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While the practice of using haint blue to ward off evil spirits might not be as common, the color has bled into the mainstream, with major paint companies like Sherwin-Williams and PPG Industries, Inc selling paint inspired by the shade.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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But who exactly is The Sentry, what are his origins, powers, and comrades in the fight against justice, and what’s the deal with his evil subconscious manifestation, The Void?—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Karen Read’s attorneys are taking an approach of highlighting inconsistencies in the testimony of witnesses involved in the case, according to Sydney Rushing, a criminal defense attorney based in Michigan offering analysis on TikTok.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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The decision struck down a San Francisco court’s decision that said imposing criminal penalties on homeless encampments violated the Constitution, allowing states to ban people from sleeping and camping in public areas.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Sammie’s father is right to be concerned, but wrong about the sinful nature of the blues—Sinners depicts musical talent as a divine blessing, a power that can pierce the veil between worlds, for good or for ill.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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April 20: Projections showed A Minecraft Movie remaining atop the box office this Easter weekend, but audiences actually felt more sinful than predicted.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Sandhagen dispatched Edgar with a vicious flying knee 28 seconds into that bout.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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With two hits, one hit-by-pitch and zero outs recorded, Williams then left the mound to a vicious chorus of boos as Aaron Boone summoned Mark Leiter Jr. — not Weaver — from the bullpen.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The imitation Punisher logo on Cole’s bullet was no act of flattery, but the most vile of insults.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2025
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Fans, some of them little kids parroting what their parents were saying, called him vile names.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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