lawbreaking 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of lawbreakingnext
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority some sociologists specialize in studying the lawbreaking elements of society

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lawbreaking

2 of 2

noun

1
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code even something as simple as littering is considered an example of lawbreaking

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in criminality
activities that are in violation of the laws of the state an outbreak of lawbreaking plagued the city in the months following the end of the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 lawbreaking
Noun
Similarly, Newport Beach had warned partygoers to avoid lawbreaking before the takeover. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 These are discrete allegations of lawbreaking, and any remedy must match their magnitude. — David B McGarry, Oc Register, 8 July 2026 Leifman has been leading the charge for a facility that judges could use as an alternative to Miami-Dade’s jails for people whose mental illnesses seem to be the main driver behind their lawbreaking. — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026 Both Goss and DeVries agreed senior citizens should notify police if residents have been victims of scams or have concerns before moving ahead with possible lawbreaking schemes. — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026 In an effort to send a message to any minors planning to descend on the Jersey Shore for a weekend of lawbreaking and recklessness, Vaz is vowing to prosecute both the offending child and their parents. — Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026 These criminal employers profit from lawbreaking. — CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026 The sponsor of the employer crime bill said that lawbreaking was wrong and the bill is constitutional. — Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026 Barack Obama pledged to look forward and not backwards, not only closing the door on prosecutions for executive lawbreaking but also failing to hold accountable those responsible for the 2008 financial crisis and the ensuing Great Recession. — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawbreaking
  1. criminal
  2. crime
  3. criminality
  4. rebellious
  5. violation
  6. illicit
  7. sin
  8. felony
Adjective
  • Spanning multiple decades, the period procedural follows a legendary detective who, alongside his dedicated team, cracks complex criminal cases while chronicling the evolving apparatus of China’s public security forces.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Patterson said on his campaign website his priorities include pushing for local rather than state control, strengthening criminal accountability, securing funding for infrastructure and protecting homeowners from rising property tax rates.
    — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of criminal
Noun
  • At that point, Jesse had been dead for a decade, and Frank had been tried for crimes three times—in Missouri, then Alabama, and back to Missouri again.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Police said the vandalism was classified as a property crime rather than a hate offense, and the teen was released to his parents.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of crime
Noun
  • Van Houten ultimately determined the allegations did not warrant charges because of a lack of criminality.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The Madlanga Commission, a judicial inquiry set up after a senior police commander alleged last year that criminality and political interference had penetrated the justice system, has now sat for more than 180 days.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of criminality
Adjective
  • Crafted with a classic fit, the leather jacket added unexpected tensions to Watts’s Q&A attire, a contrasting piece that incorporated a rebellious and youthful energy.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The duo leaned all the way into the era’s punk-rock aesthetic, serving the kind of rebellious, perfectly undone style that practically defined the early aughts.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of rebellious
Noun
  • Several Japanese nationals, including executives at top Japanese firms, were reportedly detained in August over alleged violations of dual-use goods export restrictions.
    — Anniek Bao,Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Merz said Germany would take further steps to defend itself, including against Russia’s shadow fleet of tankers in the Baltic and North seas, airspace violations and drone attacks.
    — Susie Blann, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of violation
Adjective
  • The Financial Action Task Force, the global money-laundering watchdog, has warned that criminals exploit citizenship and residency programs to conceal their identities, launder illicit wealth and evade justice.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Those illicit techniques include attaching a GPS tracker to a car or using cell-tower data to track a potential offender.
    — Rafael A. Mangual, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of illicit
Noun
  • Now Trump’s folks are rounding up and deporting people who were jailed in their home country for the sin of defending democracy.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • De Biase explained how a snake is associated with Eve and the story of sin in the Bible — but the shoe reframes the connotation of the snake.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • Phillips was questioned and has since been charged with felony destruction of a body/concealment of a death, and felony altering/destroying criminal evidence, the sheriff’s office said.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Canton had a felony warrant for his arrest, and was not allowed to possess a firearm, according to court documents.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of felony

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Cite this Entry

“Lawbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawbreaking. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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