1
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
the lawless rioters were destroying everything in sight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
the level of lawless activity in the territory had reached the point where the authorities felt compelled to act
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lawless
In Cat, Katherine Rogers suggests that coexisting with lawless cats flatters our liberal egos.
—
Rebecca Van Laer
september 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
This is a lawless administration.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 26 Sep. 2025
Our legal system has painstakingly determined the narrow range of speech that is not legally protected, such as speech that is intended to — and in fact does — incite imminent lawless action.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
People who were a bit lawless – there’s a real excitement to that.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Rebecca Van Laer
september 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
This is a lawless administration.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 26 Sep. 2025
Our legal system has painstakingly determined the narrow range of speech that is not legally protected, such as speech that is intended to — and in fact does — incite imminent lawless action.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
People who were a bit lawless – there’s a real excitement to that.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
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Since attacks like SessionReaper can expose your personal data to criminal marketplaces, consider using a reputable data removal service that continuously scans and deletes your private information, such as your address, phone number and email, from data broker sites.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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In a case involving 19 criminal counts, Farzam was convicted of five misdemeanors in 2003.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
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Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between.—
Lisa Beebe,
Los Angeles Magazine,
5 July 2017
Adjective
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As for the Banks sisters, Ashley (Akira Akbar) works through a rebellious phase during her freshman year as Hilary (Coco Jones) goes on a journey of self-exploration.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
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To be clear, there is no sense that Rondón and Ugás are defending the old guard or suggesting that a docile, starving population pinioned under the grip of a dictatorship is big-picture preferable to a rebellious insurgency.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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On Friday, two federal judges ruled that this pause is likely unlawful.—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
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He is being charged in juvenile court with evidence tampering and unlawful gun possession by a minor.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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For all his anarchic uncontrollability, Buzz is a natural leader — someone that everyone else immediately defines himself in relation to — and Farrell is perfectly cast on that score.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
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Lanthimos’ films written with Filippou are dark, odd and abrasive, but unpredictable and anarchic in a strangely enchanting way.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There have been several serious incidents involving the illicit trade in nuclear materials in Georgia over recent decades.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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Both developments could hand fresh ammunition to the Democrats who Republicans need to advance the bill — Democrats who had already raised concerns in closed-door meetings Wednesday over illicit finance and conflicts of interest.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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She was charged with disorderly intoxication, battery on an officer/firefighter/EMT, resisting arrest with violence and threatening a public servant, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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There may not be a more disorderly team in the NFL right now than the Tennessee Titans.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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She was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree child abuse, felonious assault and assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer, investigators said.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
29 Oct. 2025
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Booth, who police say has no criminal history, is charged with first-degree murder, one count of second-degree child abuse, one count of felonious assault and three counts of resisting a police officer.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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