as in legitimacy
the quality or state of being legal
the lawyers had to work for weeks to determine the lawfulness of the proposed contract
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Recent Examples of lawfulness
The ruling follows a legal challenge by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) over the lawfulness of a December 2022 parliament vote.
—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 8 May 2026
Had the former Wolverines coach and prosecutors failed to negotiate a plea deal and gone to trial, Moore’s attorneys were expected to attack the admissibility of evidence and the lawfulness of a search warrant.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The petitions are not contesting removal orders, only the lawfulness of detaining the noncitizen plaintiffs during those proceedings.
—Tasha Carvell, Twin Cities, 3 Feb. 2026
The lawfulness of an order would be determined by a military judge.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Legal experts raised questions about the lawfulness of the operation, which was done without congressional approval.
—Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
But the judges also raised serious doubts about the lawfulness of deployments of other cities.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 17 Dec. 2025
In immigration cases, habeas petitions challenge the lawfulness of continuing to detain an attorney's client.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Maxwell, 63, who recently failed to persuade the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of her conviction and 20-year sentence, intends to represent herself in an upcoming petition challenging the lawfulness of her detention.
—Molly Crane Newman, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025
Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 8 May 2026
Had the former Wolverines coach and prosecutors failed to negotiate a plea deal and gone to trial, Moore’s attorneys were expected to attack the admissibility of evidence and the lawfulness of a search warrant.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The petitions are not contesting removal orders, only the lawfulness of detaining the noncitizen plaintiffs during those proceedings.
—Tasha Carvell, Twin Cities, 3 Feb. 2026
The lawfulness of an order would be determined by a military judge.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Legal experts raised questions about the lawfulness of the operation, which was done without congressional approval.
—Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
But the judges also raised serious doubts about the lawfulness of deployments of other cities.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 17 Dec. 2025
In immigration cases, habeas petitions challenge the lawfulness of continuing to detain an attorney's client.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Maxwell, 63, who recently failed to persuade the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of her conviction and 20-year sentence, intends to represent herself in an upcoming petition challenging the lawfulness of her detention.
—Molly Crane Newman, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawfulness
legitimacy
Noun
-
While the Israel Defense Forces continue to dismantle the physical fortress — recently demolishing the largest Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon — the Iranian people are dismantling the regime’s internal legitimacy.—
Liram Koblentz-Stenzler,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
-
The new junta governments gained much of their legitimacy through their opposition to an increasingly unpopular France and perceived neo-colonialism.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lawfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawfulness. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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