1
as in anarchy
a state in which there is widespread wrongdoing and disregard for rules and authority
the western frontier was notorious for its lawlessness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crime
activities that are in violation of the laws of the state
lawlessness in the city had reached an unconscionable and intolerable level
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lawlessness
Every day this White House offers up a fresh batch of lawlessness and recklessness and mean-spiritedness and just plain craziness.
—
Halle Troadec, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
One that isn’t slurred together from such a familiar combination of backwater lawlessness, faux-polite menace, and profoundly sweaty animal metaphors.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2025
In their minds, Voodoo opened the gate to chaos and lawlessness, because Voodoo led the enslaved to upset the system that largely benefitted planters.
—Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
There is no justification for this ongoing lawlessness.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
The White House regularly characterizes undocumented immigrants as drivers of urban lawlessness, even though the data show that is not true.
—Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … BADGE REVOLT – Police officers reveal DC 'lawlessness' as feds probe alleged crime data manipulation.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Hamas’ execution and torture of Palestinians suspected of collaboration with Israel has only worsened the situation, leading to chaos and lawlessness in many parts of Gaza.
—Mkhaimar Abusada, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2025
Still, contrary to the president’s depiction of constant violent lawlessness, neighbors say most of the time there is little to see.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Halle Troadec, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
One that isn’t slurred together from such a familiar combination of backwater lawlessness, faux-polite menace, and profoundly sweaty animal metaphors.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2025
In their minds, Voodoo opened the gate to chaos and lawlessness, because Voodoo led the enslaved to upset the system that largely benefitted planters.
—Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
There is no justification for this ongoing lawlessness.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
The White House regularly characterizes undocumented immigrants as drivers of urban lawlessness, even though the data show that is not true.
—Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … BADGE REVOLT – Police officers reveal DC 'lawlessness' as feds probe alleged crime data manipulation.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Hamas’ execution and torture of Palestinians suspected of collaboration with Israel has only worsened the situation, leading to chaos and lawlessness in many parts of Gaza.
—Mkhaimar Abusada, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2025
Still, contrary to the president’s depiction of constant violent lawlessness, neighbors say most of the time there is little to see.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawlessness
Noun
-
Flynn said the rally should have never been allowed to escalate to the point of anarchy.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Other dystopian genre films like The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston, or World War Z, starring Brad Pitt, imagine the anarchy coming from a virus that breaks society and turns neighbors into literal zombies.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The crimes with which she has been charged are trumped up and her arrest is a cynical ploy by the junta headed by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to cling onto power.—
Kim Aris,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Rafael is a crime and breaking news reporter at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But the question, as Stephanopoulos kept insisting, was not about whether this rose to the level of criminality.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Be the literal poster children for adolescent criminality?—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lawlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawlessness. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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