UNLAWFULNESS Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

unlawfulness

noun

Definition of unlawfulness

as in illegality

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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 unlawfulness But in a court-martial, a service member who argues that an order is unlawful has the burden of proving its unlawfulness. — Joshua Kastenberg, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025 Many people at Harvard and elsewhere feared that the university would reach a deal with the Administration before Judge Burroughs’s decision, because that would have meant that no court would declare the unlawfulness of the Administration’s actions toward academic institutions. — Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlawfulness

Noun

The Philippines began to release video of China violating the arbitration ruling, and calling out the illegality of China’s actions on social media.

— Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
As a result, the decision was 6–3 on the illegality of the executive order, but only 5–4 on the constitutional question.

— Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 30 June 2026

Definition of illegality

Noun

From self-sufficient campaigns to opportunistic criminality Defenders used individual incidents, such as supply chain intrusions, ransomware outbreaks, and phishing waves, to quantify risk for the most of the past ten years.

— Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
These programs are laudable, certainly beneficial for some people, but overall are of limited effect even in reducing recidivism, let alone dealing with the conditions that generate criminality in the first place.

— Ronald J. Allen, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026

Definition of criminality

Noun

Michael was arrested two days later, per Denver TV station KUSA, and charged with first-degree murder, use of a weapon in a violent crime, theft of $100 to $500, and abuse of a corpse.

— Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
His team added that Emmanuel Haro's sister was subjected to horrific abuse and watched her brother die as a result of their parents' neglect.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Definition of abuse

Noun

During Friday’s sentencing hearing, Watson’s family implored Ruff to impose the maximum sentence, saying Sayers’ cruelty, lawlessness and hypocrisy were unforgivable.

— Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 25 July 2026
But its ferocity led right-wing broadcasters and influencers to start talking about a new kind of urban lawlessness enabled by liberal social policies.

— Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

Definition of lawlessness

Noun

His priorities include stopping corruption in Congress, making housing more affordable, protecting public lands, defending the Second Amendment and strengthening public schools, according to his website.

— Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026
For years, Deborah Witzburg sounded the loudest alarm when uncovering hundreds of cases of corruption and fraud inside Chicago city government.

— Chris Tye, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Definition of corruption

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unlawful

unlawfulness

unlay

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“Unlawfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawfulness. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of unlawfulness

noun

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