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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lawless
Donald Trump Is Listening ‘007 First Light’ Ditches Franchise Lore for a Whole New James Bond
The Abbott Elementary episode aired in January, but the new season of It’s Always Sunny will take the collaboration out of that family-friendly realm and drop it into the space of a more lawless sitcom.
—
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025
Does Los Angeles, then, in your opinion, qualify as a lawless city that should have had its funding cut?
—Steve Inskeep, NPR, 12 June 2025
Trump and conservatives, overall, are obsessed with tarring California — to them, the apotheosis of liberalism — as a violent, lawless, anti-American hellscape.
—Max Taves, Mercury News, 11 June 2025
At this point, failing to wear a mask when engaging in lawless activity is a major faux pas.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025
Does Los Angeles, then, in your opinion, qualify as a lawless city that should have had its funding cut?
—Steve Inskeep, NPR, 12 June 2025
Trump and conservatives, overall, are obsessed with tarring California — to them, the apotheosis of liberalism — as a violent, lawless, anti-American hellscape.
—Max Taves, Mercury News, 11 June 2025
At this point, failing to wear a mask when engaging in lawless activity is a major faux pas.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
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This panel will examine mass incarceration through multiple lenses and how the criminal justice system serves as a point of crisis of public health, black wealth building, voter disenfranchisement, and family structure.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 July 2025
-
The incident took place at the Norwood Avenue subway station at 9 a.m. Marshall was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, as well as third-degree assault and second-degree harassment.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
Adjective
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In a brief unsigned opinion, the Supreme Court said that the injunction issued by the district court was based on its view that Mr. Trump's executive order and directives from the Office of Management and Budget and Office of Personnel Management implementing that action are unlawful.—
July 8,
CBS News,
8 July 2025
-
The dad was charged with violating his probation, parental kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the news release.—
Kate Linderman
July 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
From director James DeMonaco, creator of The Purge franchise, actor-comedian Davidson plays Max in The Home, a rebellious twenty-something sentenced to community service at a quiet retirement home.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
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The story follows rebellious young demigod Ne Zha, who wrestles with his powers and the threat of humanity’s destruction.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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In two new indictments, the U.S. Department of Justice alleges millions in illicit earnings by remote work impersonators.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
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What emerges isn’t just kickbacks — but the outlines of a prostitution ring allegedly funded with illicit money.—
Gina Montaner,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Last year, for the first time in more than 20 years, Tweedy, the anarchic Scottish clown, who, with his pratfalls and pet clothing iron, Keef, provided the glue to every Giffords Circus performance, was not part of the cast.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
28 June 2025
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First, states live in an anarchic international system where no overarching authority exists to guarantee agreements and punish those who renege.—
Jennifer Kavanagh,
Foreign Affairs,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Troy Lincoln, a 55-year-old worker for the Detroit Department of Transportation, was charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm and felonious assault, the Wayne County prosecutor’s office said in a July 4 news release.—
Kate Linderman,
Kansas City Star,
7 July 2025
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Brewer’s facing additional charges in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, including felonious assault.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
3 July 2025
Adjective
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Released in March, the 14-track project does sound simultaneously disorderly and controlled, at once bursting at the seams and laced with moments of contemplative chill.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
3 July 2025
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Some movie theaters are trying to crack down on the mayhem, with multiple U.K. theater chains having issued warnings about kicking out disorderly patrons.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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