1
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
the lawless rioters were destroying everything in sight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
the level of lawless activity in the territory had reached the point where the authorities felt compelled to act
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 lawless
In these lawless parts, other humans (particularly the Mormon militia intent on defending their way of life) are the primary predators.
—
Emily Blackwood, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
On Tuesday, Garth Hudson, who played organ, accordion, saxophone, and more as a member of the Band—perhaps still the group that best embodies the glorious, lawless amalgamation of styles at the very heart of rock and roll—died at the age of eighty-seven, near Woodstock, New York.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025
That merely raises the dangerous specter of future lawless conduct by other poor losers and undermines the rule of law.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2025
Instead, he was trafficked across the border to wartorn Myanmar’s lawless Myawaddy region, where he was forcibly put to work conducting online scams.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Emily Blackwood, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
On Tuesday, Garth Hudson, who played organ, accordion, saxophone, and more as a member of the Band—perhaps still the group that best embodies the glorious, lawless amalgamation of styles at the very heart of rock and roll—died at the age of eighty-seven, near Woodstock, New York.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025
That merely raises the dangerous specter of future lawless conduct by other poor losers and undermines the rule of law.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2025
Instead, he was trafficked across the border to wartorn Myanmar’s lawless Myawaddy region, where he was forcibly put to work conducting online scams.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
-
Caleb McCray, 23, a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, was charged with manslaughter and felony criminal hazing, according to court records.—
Neil Vigdor,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The maternal aunt of a 22-year-old Harlem man who died in an upstate prison after an altercation with correction officers that is under criminal investigation demanded answers Friday.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Alsup’s order is a temporary measure that requires OPM to notify agencies that its directive was unlawful.—
Ashley Oliver,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Their actions have sparked numerous lawsuits, and on Thursday, a federal judge in California found that the mass firings of probationary employees were likely unlawful.—
Kristin Brown,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Boon will play Eddie Harrigan, Kevin’s rebellious son.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2025
-
In addition, parents who are too strict might even end up with kids who are extra rebellious.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Somewhat sharper are the characters who start out already well-versed in the illicit trade.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
5 Mar. 2025
-
While cocaine is the largest drug produced in Colombia, cannabis cultivation still plays a significant role in the country’s illicit drug trade.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The untethered, anarchic, comic brio of Robbins’ novels feels incompatible with today’s world, as though the intervening years have been explicitly designed to stamp out this spirit and replace it with something that can be bought and sold, something governable.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Thirty years after his death, his influence can be seen everywhere from the anarchic aesthetics of designers like Rick Owens and Charles Jeffrey to the subversive costumes worn by Lady Gaga.—
Kin Woo Gisela Williams Amy Conway Kate Maxwell,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Court records show Cook was charged with felonious assault.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Axe and Carawan were both charged with felonious aiding and abetting escape and conspiracy to aid and abet escape.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Real Housewives of New York Star (Countess) Luann De Lesseps was arrested in Palm Beach on Christmas Eve 2017 and charged with several offences, including battery, trespassing, and disorderly intoxication.—
Louis Staples,
Rolling Stone,
26 Feb. 2025
-
The 55-year-old actor, whose credits also include Better Call Saul and Mr. Show with Bob and David, faces multiple charges including civil disorder and disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2024
Articles Related to lawless
Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share