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
The case against the federal government is in its early stages, and plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial and damages, and for their arrests and removals to be found unlawful and to be returned to the United States.
—
Daniella Silva, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Charges over the first two nights have included assault with a deadly weapon, homicide, drug possession with intent to distribute, unlawful entry, resisting arrest, lewd acts, stalking, reckless driving, and driving under the influence, the official said.
—Nik Popli, Time, 13 Aug. 2025
Ball faces charges of indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors, indecent exposure and unlawful contact with a minor, police said.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
It should not have been left to me as a private citizen to expose the unlawful data protection behaviours of cyclists uploading digital material—obtained covertly from other private citizens—to portals for police prosecution purposes.
—Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Daniella Silva, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Charges over the first two nights have included assault with a deadly weapon, homicide, drug possession with intent to distribute, unlawful entry, resisting arrest, lewd acts, stalking, reckless driving, and driving under the influence, the official said.
—Nik Popli, Time, 13 Aug. 2025
Ball faces charges of indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors, indecent exposure and unlawful contact with a minor, police said.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
It should not have been left to me as a private citizen to expose the unlawful data protection behaviours of cyclists uploading digital material—obtained covertly from other private citizens—to portals for police prosecution purposes.
—Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlawful
Adjective
-
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
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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
Adjective
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Rudy flames out on his first day, though, and ends up working for a shady lawyer named Bruiser (Lana Parrilla) and her gleefully immoral paralegal Deck (P.J. Byrne).—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
12 Aug. 2025
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And that may be a good thing for humanity: For humans to thrive in this new era, immoral corporate executives and world leaders alike need to be replaced by AI, Gawdat advised.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Rather than being stripped of their parts, this term refers to vehicles that are driven off intact by thieves, either for joy-riding or title washing and illicit resale either here or abroad.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Grab a seat at Square Grouper, where illicit Florida Keys history blends with the freshest seafood and stellar sunset views.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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As Wednesday processes this, the evil one-eyed crow shows up and flies off with her evidence in its beak.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
6 Aug. 2025
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Ed and Lorraine had contact with the most vile and evil entities tied to those objects.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Additionally, total full-time criminal justice personnel increased 1.9% from 2023 to 2024, according to the press release.—
Amelia Wu,
Sacbee.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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No criminal charge has been brought to the District Attorney's Office to this point, said 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson.—
Andy Humbles,
The Tennessean,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Don’t dream of leaving without ordering a gigantic slice of the coconut cake with cream cheese frosting—sinful and certainly comforting.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
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Growing up in rural Tennessee, my grandfather learned that certain activities — card playing, smoking, imbibing — were sinful.—
Peter Rowe,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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Feeling profoundly betrayed and abandoned by David, Rebecca’s loyalty lies with the vicious and conniving Juno, the only family she’s known for the last decade.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
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Nothing could possibly go wrong with all the vicious alien specimens on board, right?—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The father even heard the husband shouting vile insults at his son.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
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Flood died young, a couple of days after his 59th birthday, in 1997, from the vile effects of throat cancer.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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