1
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
it is unlawful to set off fireworks within the city limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 unlawful
The new northbound camera also could capture unlawful right turns on red by drivers who fail to stop or who turn in a manner the city describes as not careful and prudent.
—
Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
The court found that Andre’s right to due process was violated and that her detention was unlawful.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 7 May 2026
Guido Reichstadter was safely removed from the bridge and is charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding, unlawful entry and failing to obey an officer, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) told Fox News Digital.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Burglary/Breaking & Entering – The unlawful entry into a building or some other structure to commit a felony or a theft.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Theo Karantsalis, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
The court found that Andre’s right to due process was violated and that her detention was unlawful.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 7 May 2026
Guido Reichstadter was safely removed from the bridge and is charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding, unlawful entry and failing to obey an officer, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) told Fox News Digital.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Burglary/Breaking & Entering – The unlawful entry into a building or some other structure to commit a felony or a theft.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlawful
Adjective
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
-
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
-
Each side views members of the other party not as merely having a different view on politics but rather as evil or immoral.—
James Piazza,
Twin Cities,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Pope Francis changed the church’s social teaching to declare capital punishment immoral in all cases.—
Nicole Winfield,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Unwilling to take orders or play by the rules of polite society, the two partner up as a bookmaker and his enforcer and run an illicit gambling operation that proves highly profitable — but dangerous.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
-
Mixing or using it with alcohol, prescription drugs, or illicit substances can significantly slow breathing and lead to death.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Specifically, carapaces spelling out 8647, which is either shell-speak for evil intent or a bartender telling Patel to 86 his personal booze and buy a drink already.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
-
The story is built around Kitana’s childhood trauma of losing her father to the evil Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who has taken over her home realm of Edenia, enslaving her mother as his zombie consort, Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen).—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Those efforts resulted in criminal charges against Giuliani in two states and a defamation lawsuit from election workers in Georgia.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
The decision to close the camp for the summer does not change the pending lawsuits nor the open criminal investigation being conducted by the Texas Rangers.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
Christian moralists thundered against the sinful pleasures of watching naked female flesh at the Spectacles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
His father, who believes Sammie's music to be sinful, orders him to drop the guitar, but Sammie can't do it.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Connecticut led New York 13-4 through the first four minutes of the third quarter, but Stewart killed the momentum with a vicious block from behind as Miller went up for a fast-break layup off of a steal.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Harris’s film, though, trades brainy barbs for some pretty vicious violence as a set of twins, badly scarred from a childhood fire, go on a journey to confront the root of their trauma.—
Juan A. Ramírez,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
John Dickinson, one of the wealthiest colonists, warned that the vile East India Company, having devastated India, would start in on America.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The bleak tortures Ohm concocts for his characters are as vile as the Bilberry’s fetid jacuzzi.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
