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
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of lawless
Steve Inskeep, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025
In Cat, Katherine Rogers suggests that coexisting with lawless cats flatters our liberal egos.
—Rebecca Van Laer
september 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Adjective
Yes, because all Democrats want to prevent the president of the United States from engaging in lawless activity.
—Steve Inskeep, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025
In Cat, Katherine Rogers suggests that coexisting with lawless cats flatters our liberal egos.
—Rebecca Van Laer
september 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
-
In addition to the murder charge, Thompson faces charges of committing a terroristic act, aggravated assault, engaging in violent criminal group activity and endangering the welfare of a minor, according to the jail roster.—
Rafael Escalera Montoto,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The discovery helped open the door to more recent developments such as tinkering with the genetic makeup of living things, treating disease by inserting genes into patients, identifying human remains and criminal suspects from DNA samples, and tracing family trees and ancient human ancestors.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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
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
Adjective
-
Silicon Valley definitely has so much of that rebellious spirit.—
Andre Byik,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
-
On Tracker, Ackles portrays Russell, Colter’s charismatic and rebellious older brother, who has a similar skill set and lack of stable home life.—
Katie Mannion,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Christina Leona Cowens, 41, was initially arrested last week on suspicion of felony grand theft, along with misdemeanor counts of unlawful disposal of human remains and attempting to conceal a death.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Several organizations have sued the administration, saying the cancellations were unlawful and that they are owed thousands of dollars in outstanding expenses.—
NPR,
NPR,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The customers that applied to make the switch to Trident are a collection of the rich, the powerful and, in some cases, those accused of criminality.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
If there is criminality, those people responsible will pay a steep price!—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
For all his anarchic uncontrollability, Buzz is a natural leader — someone that everyone else immediately defines himself in relation to — and Farrell is perfectly cast on that score.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Lanthimos’ films written with Filippou are dark, odd and abrasive, but unpredictable and anarchic in a strangely enchanting way.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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