as in legitimate
permitted by law
hunting is a lawful activity only if you have the proper license
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 lawful
Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Conquest was lawful, but imposing economic sanctions against belligerents was not.
—Oona A. Hathaway, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Campos-Hurtado, who prosecutors say lacks legal status in the U.S., was charged with using or possessing fraudulent immigration documents and possessing an identification document or authentication feature which was stolen or produced without lawful authority.
—Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025
Now, Ukrainians are asking America to keep that promise—not with weapons, but with compassion and lawful protection.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawful
Adjective
The Trump administration has repeatedly warned green card holders, who are lawful permanent residents, that their stay in the country is not guaranteed and could be revoked if they are deemed a threat to national interests.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Conquest was lawful, but imposing economic sanctions against belligerents was not.
—Oona A. Hathaway, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Campos-Hurtado, who prosecutors say lacks legal status in the U.S., was charged with using or possessing fraudulent immigration documents and possessing an identification document or authentication feature which was stolen or produced without lawful authority.
—Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025
Now, Ukrainians are asking America to keep that promise—not with weapons, but with compassion and lawful protection.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawful
Adjective
-
The Orlando Magic made a huge splash with the trade of Desmond Bane, finally acquiring a guard with legitimate outside shooting capabilities, who can also initiate offensive actions.—
Morten Stig Jensen,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
-
Eventually, the target system buckles under the strain, resulting in legitimate traffic being denied.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
This government has neither the power, will, nor legitimacy required to run the country or manage crises.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
18 June 2025
-
Corporations’ money bought social legitimacy on all sides at a fraction of the cost of most feel-good advertising campaigns.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Administration officials accuse the agency and its former leadership of exceeding their legal powers, burdening free enterprise and engaging in politicized enforcement of consumer laws.—
Douglas Gillison,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
-
His legal troubles began after a December 2022 Tennessee traffic stop in which police pulled him over for speeding.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawful. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share