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
Korac has 14 prior arrests, with charges including identify theft, forgery, unlawful imprisonment and burglary, cops said.
—
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
Protesters gathered at the Depot and Canopy hotels in January, facing off with troopers after the Minnesota State Patrol declared an unlawful assembly.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
However, courts haven't found a consensus on whether this behavior is broadly unlawful.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 19 Feb. 2026
Camacho was charged with unlawful possession of a gun on Capitol grounds.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
Protesters gathered at the Depot and Canopy hotels in January, facing off with troopers after the Minnesota State Patrol declared an unlawful assembly.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
However, courts haven't found a consensus on whether this behavior is broadly unlawful.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 19 Feb. 2026
Camacho was charged with unlawful possession of a gun on Capitol grounds.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
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
-
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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Cooperation feels not only impossible, but immoral.—
Joe Palaggi,
Twin Cities,
11 Feb. 2026
-
This also underlines how the admirably, anti-tank Heat are being asked to save civilization, protect The Republic, maintain a sense of morality in an immoral world and protect our children’s tomorrow from an accelerated descent into nihilism.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Social issue and character driven, events are steered by Swiss gold trader Hannah who, with her company teetering towards collapse, turns to illicit trading.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
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Students subsequently signed a pledge promising to say no to illicit substances and study two hours per night, and engaged in a call-and-response chant with Jackson.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Or a family battling an evil monster.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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Five years ago, Mamdani argued that the New York Police Department was essentially evil and should have its budget deeply slashed.—
Michael Powell,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Now, new emails have revealed how some notable figures were well aware of Epstein’s sensitivity around his criminal past.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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McCarthy warned that being too quick to bring untested criminal cases against political adversaries risks damaging institutional legitimacy regardless of which party is in power.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And what good mischief doesn't begin with a little sinful bite?—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
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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,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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There are fun villains; Reggie’s nemesis is a sneakily vicious NFL alum (Craig Robinson) with the splendid name Jerry Basmati.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
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Anderson received the Sydney Schanberg Prize for his reporting on decades of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where regional and global actors have fuelled one of the world’s most vicious entrenched conflicts.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Just last week the president tweeted a vile and disgusting image of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and refuses to apologize.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
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Before, during, and after the founding of the United States, our cities, States, and country have continuously relied upon capital punishment as the ultimate deterrent and only proper punishment for the vilest crimes.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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