LAWS Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

laws

noun

plural of law

as in acts

a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature a record number of laws were passed in that legislative session

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

higher laws

as in constitutions

a collection or system of rules of conduct it's important to obey the law at all times, or else you might end up in jail

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in police

the department of government that keeps order, fights crime, and enforces statutes a petty thief who had somehow managed to avoid the law for most of his life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 laws The deal could close as soon as July 22, though several states, including Oregon and California, are investigating whether the $111 billion transaction violates their antitrust laws. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 11 July 2026 Prediction markets can legally operate in Texas because they’re regulated by the federal government rather than under state gambling laws. — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026 Nigeria imposed a $220 million fine on Meta in 2024 following an investigation that alleged a breach of data privacy laws and market power abuse by the Silicon Valley giant. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 10 July 2026 Because federal laws still prohibit the sale of legal cannabis, stores don't have access to the banking system and have to conduct all business in cash, which creates security issues. — Peter Su, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 The case has again highlighted concerns about women’s and girls’ safety in India, despite tougher laws introduced after the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder of a 22-year-old woman led to nationwide demonstrations. — Reuters, NBC news, 10 July 2026 One girl’s family left New Hampshire as new laws targeting transgender youth and limiting gender-affirming care took hold, underscoring the growing pressure on families seeking supportive environments. — Kathy McCormack, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 New York argues that the corporations violated consumer protection laws by lying about safety. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 10 July 2026 In the next three years, 46 states enacted laws that allowed paramedics to practice emergency medicine. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for laws

Noun

Mehrabian recalled seeing acts like Tale Of Us and Solomun at Lot 613 in their early days.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Government repression increasingly targeted Catholic clergy in communities in Quiché, and Gerardi began to openly protest the violent acts.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026

Definition of acts

Noun

The obligations can be established through national constitutions, state constitutions, laws, and treaties.

— Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Leaders of several former Soviet republics, including Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, have replaced or amended their countries’ constitutions to strengthen their executive powers and extend their time in office.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026

Definition of constitutions

Noun

The leader is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and has authority over the national police and morality police.

— Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Paramedics took the child to the hospital, where the toddler died, Grace Mariot, a police spokeswoman, said.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of police

Noun

The sober home ordinances that the state is attacking are modeled after Costa Mesa’s rules; rules that have prevailed over these exact kinds of objections in federal court.

— Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 9 July 2026
The city also needs to change its own outdated ordinances but is waiting until the new rules are enacted, management analyst Giovanni Jungo told the Elgin City Council at its Wednesday night meeting.

— Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

Definition of ordinances

Noun

But because there are rules and codes that have to be honored to make sports work, the transgressors typically are penalized or at least shamed for doing so.

— Vahe Gregorian July 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
The full list now includes the A57 and A37, the A56 and A36, the A55, and the A34, which all now have specific build codes assigned.

— Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of codes

Noun

But although the court has been expanding executive power in some situations, the justices have reduced the leeway administrative agencies have to issue regulations that add additional requirements to clear statutes.

— Benjamin Leff, The Conversation, 9 July 2026
Many of the rules can be derived from statutes (Open Meeting Act, Civil Code Sections 4900-4955) and good meeting rules can add further important guidance.

— Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026

Definition of statutes

Noun

Michelin said defeating the current version of the measure is California Retailers Association’s top priority of all the bills that are still pending in the Legislature.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
Those include grocery vouchers, housing vouchers for those who elect to relocate during cleanup, air purifiers, cash assistance and support for utility bills.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Definition of bills

Noun

The Constitutional Court ruled that Tokayev can run again when his term expires in 2029 because his current tenure does not count under amendments to the constitution that were approved in a nationwide vote in March and came into force this month.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
With four council members already on board, the proposal seems likely to pass, but that doesn’t mean last-minute objections and amendments are not possible when the ordinance comes before the council this month for final adoption.

— Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026

Definition of amendments

Browse Nearby Words

lawns

laws

lawsuit

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Laws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laws. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of laws

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on laws

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulcrum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes