as in criminals
a person who has committed a crime
legislation that mandates lengthy prison sentences for chronic lawbreakers
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Recent Examples of lawbreakers
The world of city courts was upended in late December, when the Colorado Supreme Court unanimously ruled that municipalities cannot impose harsher punishments on lawbreakers than state statute would allow for the same offense.
—
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
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
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawbreakers
Noun
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Immigration and Integration Minister Rasmus Stoklund said 315 foreign criminals from countries outside the European Union had received sentences of more than a year over the last five years but were not expelled.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Top police brass nationwide rarely criticize their federal partners, relying on collaboration to investigate gangs, extremist groups and other major criminals — while also counting on millions in funding from Washington each year.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Castillo said the solution requires leadership, coordination and a return to focused enforcement that prioritizes violent criminal offenders over broad street operations that escalate confrontation.—
Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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In fact, reconciliation was often ill-advised, especially if offenders had not expressed remorse or commitment to any type of meaningful change.—
Richard Balkin,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lawbreakers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawbreakers. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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