lawless

1 not restrained by or under the control of legal authority the lawless rioters were destroying everything in sight Synonyms anarchic (also anarchical), disorderly, lawbreaking, unruly Related Words defiant, insubordinate, mutinous, rebellious, refractory, riotous; undisciplined; criminal, felonious, illegal, illegitimate, illicit, unlawful, wrongful; disobedient, froward, intractable, recalcitrant Near Antonyms lawful, legal, legalized, legitimate; amenable, compliant, docile, obedient, submissive, tractable Antonyms law-abiding, orderly

2 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 Synonyms criminal, felonious, illegitimate, illicit, illegal, unlawful, wrongfulRelated Words bad, evil, immoral, shameful, sinful, unethical, wicked, wrong; blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible; banned, barred, contraband, criminalized, disallowed, discouraged, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed; adulterine, bootleg, unauthorized, unlicensed, unsanctioned; under-the-counter, under-the-table; corrupt, unprincipled, unscrupulous, villainousNear Antonyms ethical, good, just, principled, right, righteous, virtuous; allowed, permitted; authorized, licensed; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned; abetted, encouraged, promoted, suggested, supported; correct, decent, decorous, proper, seemlyAntonyms lawful, legal, legitimate