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 And American law, then as now, tends to favor legacy over hustle. Aron Solomon june 24, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025 Oyun-Erdene’s supporters say his ouster had three drivers: Firstly, and with a dash of irony, his relentless pursuit of official graft, including a draft law his cabinet just submitted that would compel all public officials to justify their income. Charlie Campbell, Time, 13 June 2025 Newsom said in a court filing on Thursday that troops had moved beyond those allowable duties to actively assist ICE agents in making arrests, in violation of a federal law known as the Posse Comitatus Act, which is designed to prevent the military from being used as a domestic police force. Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2025 Discussions about the new draft law will reportedly continue over the coming week. Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for law
Recent Examples of Synonyms for law
Noun
  • The group relocated briefly to San Francisco in 1966, playing gigs and honing their live act.
    Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 27 June 2025
  • Grace reminds us that spaceflight is not just a feat of engineering, but an act of goodwill to the benefit of every human everywhere.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • It was filed in 2023 by two Virginians who are ineligible to vote under the state constitution’s lifetime voting ban for people convicted of felonies.
    Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 23 June 2025
  • These legal documents, essentially city constitutions, enable municipalities to retain greater control over some local concerns related to the city police force, city administration, city elections and bidding processes for public contracts.
    Jonathan Horwitz, Oc Register, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • The investigation involved several search warrants and assistance from multiple other police agencies, including those in New York and New Jersey, and special agents with the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2025
  • Metcalf was quietly escorted out by Dallas police, but subsequently, Alexander used the conference to attack Metcalf and discuss race.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • Republicans repeatedly said the public benefits should be stripped out of all electricity bills and covered by the $27 billion annual state budget.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • As long as security instructions look like part of the usual experience, people will continue to run malicious code themselves.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 June 2025
  • 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
Noun
  • Trump’s attempt to use this centuries-old statute to conduct mass removals — outside of immigration law, with no hearings or judicial review — has been another authoritarian power grab posing grave threats to civil liberties and the rule of law.
    Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 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
  • Massie had sponsored legislation that would have required congressional approval for any strikes on Iran.
    Colin Meyn, The Hill, 22 June 2025
  • The House Democratic Majority passed the bill in 2010, but Senate Republicans blocked the legislation with a filibuster in the Senate.
    Darren Soto, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Law.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/law. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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