1
2
as in constitution
a collection or system of rules of conduct it's important to obey the law at all times, or else you might end up in jail

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in police
the department of government that keeps order, fights crime, and enforces statutes a petty thief who had somehow managed to avoid the law for most of his life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word law distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of law are canon, ordinance, precept, regulation, rule, and statute. While all these words mean "a principle governing action or procedure," law implies imposition by a sovereign authority and the obligation of obedience on the part of all subject to that authority.

obey the law

When could canon be used to replace law?

In some situations, the words canon and law are roughly equivalent. However, canon suggests in nonreligious use a principle or rule of behavior or procedure commonly accepted as a valid guide.

the canons of good taste

When can ordinance be used instead of law?

While in some cases nearly identical to law, ordinance applies to an order governing some detail of procedure or conduct enforced by a limited authority such as a municipality.

a city ordinance

When would precept be a good substitute for law?

The words precept and law can be used in similar contexts, but precept commonly suggests something advisory and not obligatory communicated typically through teaching.

the precepts of effective writing

When might regulation be a better fit than law?

The meanings of regulation and law largely overlap; however, regulation implies prescription by authority in order to control an organization or system.

regulations affecting nuclear power plants

When is rule a more appropriate choice than law?

The words rule and law are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rule applies to more restricted or specific situations.

the rules of the game

When is it sensible to use statute instead of law?

Although the words statute and law have much in common, statute implies a law enacted by a legislative body.

a statute requiring the use of seat belts

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of law According to state law, teenagers ages 15-17 must be home between 1-5 a.m. on Saturday-Sunday and by 11 p.m. Sunday-Friday. Matthew Cupelli, IndyStar, 5 July 2025 Also of note, Joseph Sikora — who plays Tommy Egan in Starz’s Power universe — in Season 3 fills the series regular role of Bill Sterling, a coworker at Jax’s firm who started his law career later in life after serving as a Coast Guard for 10 years. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 5 July 2025 Meanwhile, on Thursday, Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran remained committed to a nuclear nonproliferation treaty, despite recently passing a law to suspend cooperation with the United Nations watchdog. Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 4 July 2025 James Gabbert/Getty Images The Context Texas law allows people with a license to conceal carry a gun and to possess that gun on college campuses. Sophie Clark shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for law
Recent Examples of Synonyms for law
Noun
  • Yet a war with Iran may be enough to seemingly legitimize his use of the act.
    Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2025
  • Of all the acts, though, Sudanese American vocalist Dua Saleh was the most subdued, swaying between heart-fluttering falsettos and cunning raps.
    Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • The Montana Supreme Court ruled last year that the state’s parental consent law violated the privacy clause in Montana’s constitution.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 4 July 2025
  • Let these words echo in the constitution of Syria, the laws, the spirit, and the daily life of the country—words that are worthy of repeating: Syria for all Syrians.
    Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • Manchester police alleged that Belfield hatched the plan to attack Campbell and led Reece Steven, Steven Cleworth, and Campbell’s ex-wife Coleen Campbell in carrying out the attack.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 25 June 2025
  • It was later confirmed that French police had tracked the ransom trail and freed the victim from a trunk where he’d been held for 58 hours.
    Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • That's the promise of this country, and that's the promise this bill delivers.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
  • Two bills this year — one by me (SB 16) and one from state Senator Josh Becker (SB 606) — would bolster this framework.
    Catherine Blakespear, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • Important Study Limitations Authors acknowledged limitations, including reliance on administrative diagnosis codes, which are subject to underdiagnosis and misclassification, data on medication adherence, cognitive test scores, and genetic risk factors were unavailable.
    Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
  • Shirting ranged from classic fits to oversized, and toyed with house codes in an asymmetric tank.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • The test Consumers' Research proposes also would throw a host of federal statutes into doubt, as Congress has often empowered agencies to raise revenue without specifying a numeric cap or tax rate.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 June 2025
  • Trump used a federal statute to seize control of the California National Guard earlier this month, as protests broke out about his administration’s crackdown on immigration and the use of ICE agents.
    Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • An ordinance passed in 2024, which prohibits the use of city resources for federal immigration enforcement, is at the center of the lawsuit.
    Molly Gibbs, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
  • The suit targets Los Angeles' ordinance that prohibits city resources from being used for immigration enforcement and bars local police from sharing information about individuals without legal status.
    Adeola Adeosun Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • After a marathon session, the Senate narrowly passed their version of the legislation with Vice President Vance having to cast the deciding vote.
    JJ Kinahan, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • He was overruled by Trump and Speaker Johnson, who passed his version of the legislation before Memorial Day.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Law.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/law. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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