as in criminals
a person who has committed a crime
legislation that mandates lengthy prison sentences for chronic lawbreakers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lawbreakers
Meanwhile, municipal courts around the state are adjusting to a new normal after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled in December that cities cannot punish lawbreakers beyond what state statute would allow for the same offenses.
—
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026
Martha Cornelison agreed the border with Mexico needed to be secured and that serious lawbreakers should be deported.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 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, 15 Feb. 2026
Martha Cornelison agreed the border with Mexico needed to be secured and that serious lawbreakers should be deported.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 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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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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Cowley wants to champion policies that attack the root causes of violence while holding offenders accountable, according to her campaign website.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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My key priorities include prosecuting violent offenders, gangs, traffickers, fentanyl dealers, and cartels; supporting local law enforcement; pursuing lawsuits to defend Texas; and aggressively investigating and prosecuting fraud.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lawbreakers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawbreakers. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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