lawless

adjective

ˈlȯ-ləs How to pronounce lawless (audio)
Definition of lawlessnext
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

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 My friend chose to pray instead of conceding to the lawless demands. — Tony Lobl, Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2026 Few components of travel these days are as reliably lawless as the boarding process. — Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 July 2026 Set in post-Civil War America, former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) joins the lawless traveling town ‘Hell on Wheels,’ which follows the construction of the first-ever transcontinental railroad. — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 Ser Jasper is arrested, but the atmosphere in the city is lawless. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
  1. criminal
  2. unlawful
  3. rebellious
  4. illicit
  5. anarchic
  6. felonious
  7. disorderly
Adjective
  • By the way, his freshman season ended with a 41-27 loss to Manning and Texas in the Citrus Bowl, playing for interim coach Biff Poggi after Sherrone Moore was fired amid criminal charges.
    — Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Jamaica’s petition is based on an 1833 law that made the committee the highest court for civil and criminal appeals in the British Empire.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • He is charged with official misconduct in the first degree, which is punishable by up to 12 months behind bars, if convicted, and unlawful access to a computer in the fourth degree, which carries a maximum sentence of 90 days.
    — Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Investigators accused him of obstruction of justice, unlawful contracting and, among other things, claiming $127,630 in expenses linked to fictitious missions and plane tickets for nearly a dozen trips.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of unlawful
Adjective
  • Twenty-nine years have passed since then, yet the memory of the princess—an empathetic woman who defied convention, vulnerable yet rebellious, and imbued with a profound humanity—remains vivid and very much alive in the eyes of the entire world.
    — Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Next month, broader audiences will discover Halkias’s rebellious brand of humor with Uncle Stav, his latest Netflix standup special, a follow-up to 2023’s Fat Rascal.
    — Jonathan Borge, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Adjective
  • In Virginia’s Franklin County, Henry Law made the switch from illicit moonshine production to commercial sales.
    — Cole Reynolds, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Johnny’s undercover mission leads to an unexpected bromance as he gets drawn into his target’s world of illicit thrills.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of illicit
Adjective
  • Together, the two embark on an anarchic mother-and-daughter journey to reconnect.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The whole thing is an anarchic delirium reminiscent of the kind experienced by Bart and Milhouse after drinking an all-syrup Super Squishee; thankfully, the comedown is quick and relatively painless.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 June 2026
Definition of anarchic
Adjective
  • Her husband was arrested that day and faces 10 counts of felonious criminal abuse charges.
    — Jane Park, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Zachary Robert Stacer, 22, was arrested on July 30 and charged with two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, three counts of felonious assault and five counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer.
    — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of felonious
Adjective
  • Betty Laura Zapata | Bloomberg | Getty Images The growing threat posed by advanced artificial intelligence models could trigger a disorderly correction in global financial markets, according to Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Bessent’s maneuvers are distinct, some observers say, by not being prompted by crisis or particularly disorderly market conditions.
    — Christopher Anstey, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of disorderly

Browse Nearby Words

lawgivers
lawless
lawlessness
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Cite this Entry

“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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