1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of laws
State Attorney General Dana Nessel is suing four big oil companies under antitrust laws alleging a decades-long conspiracy to undermine the adoption of renewable energy and electric vehicles that has led Michiganders to face higher energy costs and greater exposure to climate change.
—
Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Assessors statewide operate under the same laws and consistency matters.
—Jeffrey Prang, Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
When Hilton’s private video was shared and profited from without her consent, there were no laws to protect her, only an avalanche of shame that tried to put her into hiding.
—Hannah Shewan Stevens, Glamour, 23 Jan. 2026
In September, the Santa Barbara County district attorney’s office filed criminal charges against the company, accusing it of knowingly violating state environmental laws while working on repairs to oil pipelines that have sat idle since a major spill in 2015.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
In recent years, clean slate laws have dominated criminal justice reform, focusing on sealing or expunging eligible records.
—Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Numerous state and local laws and regulations drive up the costs for other businesses in the state as well.
—Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Many of those laws are already being ignored, Black lawmakers said.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
In fact, Penn may have actually violated one of California’s clean air laws.
—David Matthews, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Jc Reindl, Freep.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Assessors statewide operate under the same laws and consistency matters.
—Jeffrey Prang, Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
When Hilton’s private video was shared and profited from without her consent, there were no laws to protect her, only an avalanche of shame that tried to put her into hiding.
—Hannah Shewan Stevens, Glamour, 23 Jan. 2026
In September, the Santa Barbara County district attorney’s office filed criminal charges against the company, accusing it of knowingly violating state environmental laws while working on repairs to oil pipelines that have sat idle since a major spill in 2015.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
In recent years, clean slate laws have dominated criminal justice reform, focusing on sealing or expunging eligible records.
—Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Numerous state and local laws and regulations drive up the costs for other businesses in the state as well.
—Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Many of those laws are already being ignored, Black lawmakers said.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
In fact, Penn may have actually violated one of California’s clean air laws.
—David Matthews, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laws
Noun
-
In between acts, there was a dance intermission featuring background dancers, including a solo female dancer performing a contemporary piece, before the stage opened to a full dance performance.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The two acts drew a crowd of about 13,000 to the former Xcel Energy Center in August 2023.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The larger point here is that the new justice and the governor are strong advocates of literalism and originalism — legal doctrines holding that constitutions and laws should be read precisely as the authors wrote and understood them.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
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Most of Mamdani’s predecessors were sworn in on a Bible, although the oath to uphold the federal, state and city constitutions does not require the use of any religious text.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Fortune,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Since last summer, police in Northern California have been investigating a hidden camera found in a public bathroom at a Kaiser Medical Center in Vallejo.—
Jeff Nguyen,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
According to Sutton, federal agents are now being pushed into volatile crowd-control roles without proper training or coordination because local police have been ordered to stand down.—
Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In her introduction of the ordinances, Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas drew a direct tie between the ordinances and the violence in Minneapolis, where ICE agents have killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old poet and mother of three, and Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Veterans Affairs ICU nurse.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
No federal permit is required to have the exotic pet; however, local ordinances can prohibit such ownership.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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About 87% of Connecticut ZIP codes meet that criteria, according to a CNBC analysis of Census Bureau data.—
Jessica Dickler,Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Curated by Blazy, who was named the creative director for the maison in 2024 following the departure of Virginie Viard, the collection signaled a new chapter for Chanel, and a fresh take on the French luxury fashion house’s design codes.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The state legislature subsequently enacted statutes adopting the ABC test with exceptions.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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Courts have almost universally blocked these attempts as violating the underlying statutes establishing the federal programs.—
Ronald Brownstein,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Although several House Democrats supported the bills to fund the government, prominent House Democrats on Saturday called on the upper chamber to reject the bill.—
Patrick Maguire,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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The latest deadly altercation in the city is threatening to imperil an 11th-hour scramble in Congress to get the last of its appropriations bills passed in less than a week.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Lawmakers tore up agenda papers and scuffled Wednesday over constitutional amendments opposition claims would extend parliament’s mandate, which expires in April.—
Omar Faruk,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In October, the city’s infrastructure and growth committee discussed possible amendments to zoning requirements for liquor, package, and smoke shops, in addition to pawn shops and some new language in the zoning code for bars and restaurants.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laws. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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