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
Saturated in the heatwave colors of Australia’s scorching Red Center, with its searing blue skies and bright orange sands, Wolfram makes the grim, lawless backwater of Wake in Fright seem positively cosmopolitan by comparison.
—
Damon Wise, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026
The raid, condemned by many Democrats as lawless, came amid a growing resurgence of activism in Silicon Valley around the use of its products by the US government.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Worse yet than the terrible legal policies are the lawless actions.
—Paul Rosenzweig, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Temporary means temporary and this is yet another lawless and activist order from the federal judiciary who continues to undermine our immigration laws.
—CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Damon Wise, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026
The raid, condemned by many Democrats as lawless, came amid a growing resurgence of activism in Silicon Valley around the use of its products by the US government.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Worse yet than the terrible legal policies are the lawless actions.
—Paul Rosenzweig, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Temporary means temporary and this is yet another lawless and activist order from the federal judiciary who continues to undermine our immigration laws.
—CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
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Investigators are also looking into the man’s criminal history and his mental health status, source said.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
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Crown Point police said that Angelle Czaja, 23, was charged with felony criminal recklessness and misdemeanor failure to remain at the scene of an accident with bodily injury.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 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
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Enter rebellious wild child Violet with the solution.—
Christina Grace Tucker,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
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The nurturing Moon in your 11th House of Charity uplifts rebellious Uranus, potentially sparking surprising invites or plan shifts.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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FedEx called its suit a procedural step to protect its customers, shareholders and the company, noting that the CIT’s ruling made clear that companies must file suit to seek reliquidation and a refund if the Supreme Court deemed the tariffs unlawful.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
27 Feb. 2026
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Ortiz Betancourt has an additional misdemeanor count of operation of a motor vehicle by an unlicensed driver, while Torrealba-Pajaro has misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement and unlawful encroachment on a law enforcement officer.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Unfolding in 1870s Oxford and venturing abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street’s most renowned resident.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
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Could this be the anarchic mind that emerges when the ego relinquishes its hold?—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Other clips show dozens of containers throughout the illicit facility, and vessels filled with unknown substances.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
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On Wednesday, his administration imposed new sanctions on 30 people and companies accused of enabling Iran’s production of ballistic missiles and drones, and illicit oil sales.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Nurses will chase after disorderly patients.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, was nabbed by police early Thursday after he was identified as one of four men shown in social media video throwing snowballs at police responding to the disorderly crowd in the Greenwich Village park.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Caleb Flynn has been charged with murder, two counts of felonious assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of tampering with evidence.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
24 Feb. 2026
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The plutocrat puppets like Bannon and the felonious Trumps will destroy the courts, justice system and balance of power.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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