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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unlawful
About a month later, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office filed a felony charge of unlawful assault by a public officer against Gurich for the October 2024 incident.
—
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The antisemitic chants, unlawful encampments and threatening harassment seen at schools from UCLA to Columbia have made headlines.
—Karen Parry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
The Ohio lawmaker said unlawful activity in the city has steadily increased since 2023, when 6,100 violent crimes were recorded.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Sep. 2025
In November, jurors convicted Martinez of unlawful compensation and a related conspiracy charge.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The antisemitic chants, unlawful encampments and threatening harassment seen at schools from UCLA to Columbia have made headlines.
—Karen Parry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
The Ohio lawmaker said unlawful activity in the city has steadily increased since 2023, when 6,100 violent crimes were recorded.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Sep. 2025
In November, jurors convicted Martinez of unlawful compensation and a related conspiracy charge.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 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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Unlike previous seasons, Dorothy never makes immoral choices.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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This is disgraceful and immoral.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For two decades, the regimes of Hugo Chávez and Maduro have tied the state to illicit economies —granting officers, loyalists, and gangs access to oil, smuggling routes and drug profits.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
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In a lawsuit filed in California District Court on Thursday, the FTC accuses the companies of multiple forms of illicit behavior.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Maybe evil is a spiritual substance in and of itself.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
21 Sep. 2025
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Kang drew inspiration from gut, traditional Korean folk dancers who performed rituals to protect communities from demons and evil spirits.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The In Cold Light star, who made history as the first male deaf actor to win an Oscar for his supporting role in CODA, portrays Joe Mancuso, the head of the criminal underworld.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
21 Sep. 2025
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Police responded to a report of a child crying in a storage unit near 27th Street and Silver Spring Drive, according to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County, CBS 58 , WISN 12 and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In an important variation, medieval soldiers returning from war regularly spent an extended period of penance in monasteries – a recognition of Catholicism’s teaching that any war is inherently sinful.—
Timothy Gabrielli,
The Conversation,
25 Aug. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Over eight episodes, the brothers find themselves at the mercy of Mancuso — a former family friend — and his vicious henchmen, and they are forced to confront the emotional scars of growing up with an alcoholic father, who had gambled away his own restaurant.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Sep. 2025
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That vicious cycle spins in states such as California, Illinois, and Texas.—
Jeffrey Selingo,
New Yorker,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Free speech scholars maintain the most vile and reprehensible speech, including that which celebrates someone's death, is legally protected — not from the consequences meted by private employers, but from government suppression.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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Continue reading … INSTANT KARMA – School administrator who made vile Kirk assassination comment no longer employed.—
,
FOXNews.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.
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