OUTLAW Synonyms: 132 Similar and Opposite Words

outlaw 1 of 2

verb

Definition of outlaw

as in to ban

to make or declare contrary to the law a push to outlaw smoking in all public buildings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to prohibit

to order not to do or use or to be done or used fed up with the constant interruptions, the physician has outlawed all cell phone use from his office

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

outlaw

2 of 2

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 outlaw

Verb

Proposition 42 would outlaw retroactive taxation, directly countering Proposition 40 and killing the wealth tax. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026 Some leagues will require the same number of players to switch teams, essentially outlawing a 2-for-1 or 3-for-2 exchange. — Sports Betting, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

Modern country is represented too, with rising outlaw country artist Margo Price on backing vocals across the album. — Brendan Hay, SPIN, 24 Aug. 2026 But Medora is more prosperous; in lieu of dollar stores, there is relentless outlaw kitsch. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outlaw

Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlaw

Verb

Denver Public Schools in Colorado has banned the popular chatbot ChatGPT but authorizes students to use an educational AI platform, MagicSchool, reported 9 News.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Traditional political parties were banned, and a council of locals began directly managing the town’s funds.

— Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of ban

Verb

Beachgoers are now prohibited from smoking cigarettes or using e-cigarettes and vaping devices on public beaches in Indian Rocks Beach.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
The method is prohibited by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), however, and also by the BBBofC if the volume delivered exceeds 100ml within a 12-hour period.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of prohibit

Noun

Leonard, who made tens of millions in off-the-books, no-show endorsements, made out like a bandit with this settlement, especially since his $51 million contract for the coming season was not voided.

— John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Analysts warn each ransom payment fuels more crime as armed groups, from rural bandits to Islamist militants, raid schools, mosques and villages, with an average of 21 kidnappings reported daily.

— Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of bandit

Verb

The militarized cities and the unconstitutional laws that criminalize dissent betray the fear of a dehumanizing system faced with the strength of a conscious and determined community.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
Iranian politicians are divided over a move by the country’s parliament to approve a bill that would criminalize communications with media outlets deemed hostile to the Islamic Republic.

— Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of criminalize

Verb

If, God forbid, both my father and my brother lost the ability to work, my family would want for nothing.

— Hisham Matar, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
But the head of Germany’s central bank, who is also a member of the European Central Bank Governing Council, said Melenchon’s debt cancelation idea would be forbidden under the currency bloc’s rules and could lead to hyperinflation.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of forbid

Noun

Most crimes across Mexico went unsolved, and authorities sometimes appeared to be colluding with criminals instead of fighting them.

— Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Keeping email, downloads and everyday web activity away from that machine reduces the opportunities criminals have to reach it.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of criminal

Verb

Basis for the suit to illegalize the union, lawyers explained, is the difference in race between the participants.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, sandiegouniontribune.com, 28 Feb. 2018
Rather than negotiating a political agreement, Madrid decided to illegalize Basque political parties allegedly linked with terrorism and to prosecute their leaders.

— Sergi Pardos-Prado, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2017

Definition of illegalize

Browse Nearby Words

outlasts

outlaw

outlawed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Outlaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlaw. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of outlaw

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

patina

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes