as in criminal
a person who has committed a crime
legislation that mandates lengthy prison sentences for chronic lawbreakers
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Recent Examples of lawbreaker
As politicians in both parties warned that lawbreakers in the crowd would pay, Webster suppressed a pang of fear.
—
Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Wyatt, however, became a master at convincing a lawbreaker to surrender his weapon.
—Literary Hub, 18 Nov. 2025
From blowing past a stop sign at Pittsburgh Arlington Pre K-8 to zipping through busy crosswalks outside schools in Beaver Falls, there were plenty of lawbreakers but not much law enforcement.
—Erika Stanish, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
The law needs to improve to protect law-abiding drivers from lawbreakers.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawbreaker
Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Wyatt, however, became a master at convincing a lawbreaker to surrender his weapon.
—Literary Hub, 18 Nov. 2025
From blowing past a stop sign at Pittsburgh Arlington Pre K-8 to zipping through busy crosswalks outside schools in Beaver Falls, there were plenty of lawbreakers but not much law enforcement.
—Erika Stanish, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
The law needs to improve to protect law-abiding drivers from lawbreakers.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawbreaker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawbreaker
Noun
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Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE has new funding to expand detention space to keep these criminals off American streets before they are removed for good from our communities.—
Jeff Capellini,
CBS News,
20 Feb. 2026
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His office is more concerned about arresting police officers than prosecuting criminals.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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According to multiple people briefed on the discussions, the committee could propose to remove the carryover suspension part of the punishment for first-time offenders on second-half targeting penalties, leaving in place a 15-yard penalty and ejection.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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What emerged, Jackson told the court Thursday, was the portrait of a transient and calculating offender who operated across multiple states and evaded law enforcement for years.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lawbreaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawbreaker. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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