1
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
the lawless rioters were destroying everything in sight
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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
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
Shot in the back and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 28 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
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
Shot in the back and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 28 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
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In 2025 alone, the city paid these firms more than $20 million to fight the claims of people whose criminal convictions were overturned in court.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Assault victims in Virginia may seek a civil resolution to their criminal case through accord and satisfaction, an agreement for an amount owed in damages, such as money to cover the cost of medical bills or property repairs.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Apr. 2026
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
-
The temperamental Moon activates your 3rd House of Communication, forming a supportive trine to rebellious Uranus in your 7th House of Companions.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
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The series picks up 15 years after the finale of The Handmaid's Tale, and follows Agnes and Daisy (Lucy Halliday), a rebellious newcomer.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The unlawful taking of any part or accessory affixed to the interior or exterior of a motor vehicle in a manner which would make the item an attachment of the vehicle or necessary for its operation.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Apr. 2026
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Killing people on the high seas, supporting clearly unlawful military operations, and participating in the destruction of civilian infrastructure — while civilians are present — are wrong and un-American.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
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Europe’s three major institutions, Bologna, Paris and Oxford, welcomed between 1,000 and 2,500 students each in these early decades, and conditions were sprawling, anarchic and provisional.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Someone is stealing the secrets behind magicians’ greatest tricks and selling them on illicit websites.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
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Authorities shut down the operation but made no arrests related to the illicit farm, said Jeremy Stinson, a state parks spokesperson.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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People with the disorder usually experience a combination of psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorderly behavior.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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Cincinnati's Opening Day ended with disorderly behavior and arrests at The Banks and elsewhere.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Choi said nine law enforcement agencies in Ramsey County are investigating other potentially felonious conduct by federal agents.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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He was originally charged with one count of murder and two counts each of felonious assault and tampering with evidence, according to court records.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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