laws

Definition of lawsnext
plural of law
1
2
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

3
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 Parallel with that, city enforcement is essential to holding accountable the app companies dispatching the 65,000-plus e-bike delivery workers within timeframes that impel the breaking of traffic laws. Michael Miller, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026 Manny Fernandez, director of operations for the agency, said the dispute stemmed in part from the city’s request for detailed participant information that the non-profit was unable to provide because of the health privacy laws known as HIPAA. Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026 New York Assembly members Alex Bores and Andrew Gounardes write a letter expressing concern over the recent bipartisan talks in the House over preemption of AI state laws. Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 22 May 2026 One of its iron laws is that anything that forces employers to raise wages kills jobs. Nick Hanauer, The Atlantic, 22 May 2026 And a patchwork of state laws regulating marijuana means not all airports will treat the products the same. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026 Yet even a recalcitrant Pretoria is mulling changes to telecom laws that could eventually clear a path for the company. Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 22 May 2026 Steyer spokesperson Kevin Liao said the campaign requires creators to follow all disclosure laws when contracting with the campaign and discloses payments in campaign filings. Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026 Their owners used to claim a loophole in the state’s gambling laws. Jeff A. Chamer may 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laws
Noun
  • Most other acts by those of a Wolves persuasion barely generated a murmur, and the lap of appreciation by head coach Rob Edwards brought more than a smattering of boos.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • As streaming technology improves and festivals continue drawing top-shelf acts, livestreams of music festivals have become more common.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • The Supreme Court tries to avoid second-guessing state courts' interpretations of their own constitutions.
    ABC News, ABC News, 11 May 2026
  • The Supreme Court tries to avoid second-guessing state courts’ interpretations of their own constitutions.
    Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • San Diego police are investigating the attack as a hate crime.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2026
  • As police were searching for a suspect inside the Islamic center, dispatchers got calls that a landscaper may have been shot at blocks away, Wahl said.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Alvarez asked what ordinances might apply.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
  • Its future is unclear, though, because state preemption laws prevent cities from creating their own gun ordinances.
    Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • Full mitigation instructions, including all necessary command-line codes, are included in the advisory.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
  • Named Les Ateliers Gaultier, the line is a tribute to the couture side of the fashion house, nodding to its founder and his codes in the names and bottles of the six scents in the range.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
Noun
  • The lawsuit argued that Georgia law mandates transparency in all aspects of the conduct of elections and the counting and recording of votes, and that Raffensperger's decision to exclude observers violates those statutes.
    CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 19 May 2026
  • Federal statutes demanded charities detail such transactions in their annual tax returns.
    Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • Not leaving a sufficient gap between the dryer and the wall can actually slow down the drying process, therefore taking more time—and money in energy bills—according to Stafford.
    Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 24 May 2026
  • Yet even amid all that experimentation, bourbon still holds to its core of corn-forward mash bills, new charred oak, and a recognizable structural backbone.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Noun
  • The legislation aims to increase housing supply and reduce regulatory barriers to construction, with the House adding amendments to the Senate version of the bill to restrict large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes.
    Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2026
  • There have been 217 constitutional amendments placed on the ballot in Minnesota's history.
    Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 20 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Laws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laws. Accessed 25 May. 2026.

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