1
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
it is unlawful to set off fireworks within the city limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
a sympathetic look at the unlawful love between a married physician and an adoring colleague
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unlawful
To the extent that there have been acts of violence and vandalism in the vicinity of the protests, those acts are unlawful.
—
Dan Tully, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
McIntire has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him: malicious destruction of property and unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2025
Instead of guaranteeing parties' legitimate rights to peaceful nuclear energy, it has been exploited as a pretext for aggression and unlawful action that jeopardize the supreme interests of my country.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025
In the present moment, the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled the program unlawful but allowed renewals to continue for current recipients.
—Darren Soto, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Dan Tully, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
McIntire has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him: malicious destruction of property and unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2025
Instead of guaranteeing parties' legitimate rights to peaceful nuclear energy, it has been exploited as a pretext for aggression and unlawful action that jeopardize the supreme interests of my country.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025
In the present moment, the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled the program unlawful but allowed renewals to continue for current recipients.
—Darren Soto, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlawful
Adjective
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Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
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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
Adjective
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Though the organization had a history of taking action against (supposedly) immoral ministers, Kunstler had no direct evidence to prove this was the case with Rev. Hall.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
27 June 2025
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His plan calls for demanding that messages not change more frequently than every four seconds, not include flashing lights and not include obscene, indecent or immoral content.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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In two new indictments, the U.S. Department of Justice alleges millions in illicit earnings by remote work impersonators.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
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What emerges isn’t just kickbacks — but the outlines of a prostitution ring allegedly funded with illicit money.—
Gina Montaner,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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After an early tutorial sequence where players learn the ropes of controlling the powerful yet agile ape, the story introduces its antagonists: Void Company, an evil corporate mining operation hell-bent on creating a golden banana monopoly.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 July 2025
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Idaho senators denounce 'evil attack' in Idaho that killed firefighters 12:44 PM EDT Zohran Mamdani not fully embraced by top New York Democrats Zohran Mamdani has not yet been fully embraced by top New York Democrats after his apparent victory in the New York City mayoral primary last week.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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This panel will examine mass incarceration through multiple lenses and how the criminal justice system serves as a point of crisis of public health, black wealth building, voter disenfranchisement, and family structure.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 July 2025
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The incident took place at the Norwood Avenue subway station at 9 a.m. Marshall was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, as well as third-degree assault and second-degree harassment.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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And then, on top of it, I was born out of some affair like some illegitimate, sinful mistake?—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
28 June 2025
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In New York, the story goes that the sloppily sinful sandwich on rye bread was named for the founder of New York’s Reuben Restaurant.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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This approach costs three times more than housing people and creates a vicious cycle — incarceration increases homelessness risk by destroying community connections and employment prospects.—
Mahdi E Diab,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 June 2025
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Of course, no conversation about Yellowjackets season 3 would be complete without a deep dive into Shauna's vicious throw down with Swank's Melissa — during which Shauna rips a chunk of flesh off Melissa's arm with her teeth and forces her to eat it.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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But here’s the hard truth: the First Amendment protects vile, hateful speech, not just popular opinions.—
Bob Shaw,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 June 2025
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The second my status came into question, the vile comments on my worthiness came out, and those comments are telling.—
Sonam Sheth
Gabe Whisnant
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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