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
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Recent Examples of unlawful
The indictment, handed up by a federal grand jury in Maryland, charged Bolton with eight counts of unlawful transmission of national defense information as well as 10 counts of unlawful retention of national defense information.
—
Alexander Mallin,
ABC News,
26 June 2026
He was arrested and charged with assault, threatening, unlawful restraint, breach of peace and disorderly conduct.
—
Kc Baker,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
Some members of the conservative majority have, on occasion, exhibited a willingness to stand up to Trump’s most egregiously unlawful actions.
—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
26 June 2026
Cornelius Houston will face charges of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit other felony and unlawful restraint, according to Fort Worth jail records.
—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Alexander Mallin,
ABC News,
26 June 2026
He was arrested and charged with assault, threatening, unlawful restraint, breach of peace and disorderly conduct.
—
Kc Baker,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
Some members of the conservative majority have, on occasion, exhibited a willingness to stand up to Trump’s most egregiously unlawful actions.
—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
26 June 2026
Cornelius Houston will face charges of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit other felony and unlawful restraint, according to Fort Worth jail records.
—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlawful
Adjective
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So far this year, 17 tons of illicit drugs, mostly cocaine, have been seized in the Pacific region – more than three times the total across the whole of last year, according to the Australian Federal Police.
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Australian Federal Police via AP Six others allegedly involved in the importation of the cocaine had previously been arrested and charged with offenses related to illicit drugs possession, police said.
Adjective
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Court records show that 60-year-old Bradley Kyle Martin, of Dearborn Heights, is charged with using a computer or internet to communicate with another person to commit a crime and accosting children for immoral purposes.
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These monsters—its antitheses—constitute that part of our nature that urges us to be sensible and strong, and that inclines us to see the life drive as trivial, weak, sentimental and immoral.
Adjective
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Guo was convicted of nine of 12 criminal charges during a seven-week trial that prosecutors said showcased his deception of thousands of investors in bogus deals that enabled Guo’s lavish lifestyle.
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In May 2025, a Placer County criminal grand jury indicted both men.
Adjective
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There is so much evil and suffering in the world, so much conniving and malicious intent, and the self is, at least, a familiar foe.
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When the monsters reveal an evil agenda that goes beyond becoming movie stars, the Minions are forced to battle them to save the world.
Adjective
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Critics also have challenged the report’s characterization of cases involving women, contending these were consensual affairs that were sinful but not abusive.
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Naim and his overly anxious single mom (Mia Wasikowska) attend rote church services in which the pastor looks to exorcise the LGBTQ+ from sinful boys who like boys and girls who like girls.
Adjective
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This vicious machine chewed him up and spit him out in predictable fashion.
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The mood changed a bit when Tab Ramos took a vicious elbow to the side of his head and fractured his skull.
Adjective
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Powerful, rich people filled the lawn to watch a violent sport that ended with a vile and racist comment.
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That person is referring to heavyweight Josh Hokit, who is facing widespread backlash for making a vile joke about former first lady Michelle Obama after winning his match over Derrick Lewis.
Adjective
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That if you were deemed, as an enslaved person, if you were deemed troublesome or in some way unwanted, you would literally be sold down the river from the more northern states to the deeper south where you would potentially be treated even worse.
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Offer Real Value, Not Leftovers Most product bundles fail not because the idea is bad but because the execution misses what consumers actually want.
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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