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
Relevance
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
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 lawless
And for those who gave their lives, Renee Good, mother of three, brutally murdered, and Alex Pretti, VA nurse, executed by ICE and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths.
—
James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Congress’s February efforts to resolve the shutdown were complicated by the lawless ICE campaign in Minneapolis, where federal agents killed two American citizens during a brutal crackdown on protests.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Shot in the back and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2026
Renee Good, mother of three, brutally murdered, Alex Pretti, VA nurse, executed by ICE, shot in the back and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lawless
James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Congress’s February efforts to resolve the shutdown were complicated by the lawless ICE campaign in Minneapolis, where federal agents killed two American citizens during a brutal crackdown on protests.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Shot in the back and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2026
Renee Good, mother of three, brutally murdered, Alex Pretti, VA nurse, executed by ICE, shot in the back and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
-
When Richards began his career in criminal-justice advocacy, the idea of closing Rikers Island would have been a radical fantasy.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Jayvon Boyd, 27, was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the stabbing, which occurred the day before.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
-
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
-
Artist Sean Gordon Murphy has always had a rebellious indie streak to his work.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
-
The Clash are singing of a city aflame, the Sex Pistols are somehow getting more popular after imploding on tour, and on every street corner, mohawks and safety pins are on rebellious display.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
A’Jonya Shorter, 18, is charged with dangerous possession of a firearm, a Level 5 felony; possession of a firearm on school property, a Level 6 felony; and misdemeanor unlawful carrying of a handgun.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
The money, hidden in furniture, was never reported through standard police channels, prompting the former intelligence chief in 2022 to file a criminal complaint alleging a cover-up, money laundering, and unlawful use of Ramaphosa’s bodyguards to track down suspects.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Taccone’s film is certainly much more serious than the spoofy, anarchic projects he’s made in the past, including his work as a writer on Saturday Night Live.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Formed in the late 2010s, the band was inspired by the anarchic creativity of Japanese noise acts like Melt-Banana, Solmania, and Boredoms.—
Jude Noel,
Pitchfork,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Unwilling to take orders or play by the rules of polite society, the two partner up as a bookmaker and his enforcer and run an illicit gambling operation that proves highly profitable — but dangerous.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
-
Mixing or using it with alcohol, prescription drugs, or illicit substances can significantly slow breathing and lead to death.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Luis Fernando Del Ra Ortiz, 50, of Key Largo, was arrested and charged with child neglect, disorderly intoxication, resisting arrest, battery, and assault, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
This enforcement aligns with Disney’s official park rules, which state that guests who engage in disorderly or unsafe behavior will be removed without refund and may face long-term bans.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Kent County Sheriff's Office says that on April 7, the Patrol and Investigative Divisions attempted to stop the 39-year-old driver from Kent County, who was wanted for a felonious assault the night before.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
Last year, the number of officers killed decreased, both in terms of officers killed as a result of felonious acts and those killed accidentally.—
Kenneth D. Robinson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
