lawless

adjective

ˈlȯ-ləs How to pronounce lawless (audio)
Definition of lawlessnext
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

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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 Everybody on our side understands that impeachment is a critical tool in the toolbox for constitutional self-defense against a president acting like a king, an imperious, lawless, arrogant king. — NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026 Besides, though the presence of armed vigilantes helped many in town feel safer, the fact remained that much of Michoacán was still lawless. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The show, Gunsmoke & Mirrors, is set in the late 19th century and chronicles the transformation of Christian Rørmose Madsen, who reinvented himself in the lawless crucible of the American West. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026 Both upheld the conviction, arguing that Hess's word choice was intended to incite and likely to result in lawless behavior. — Cate Charron, IndyStar, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
  1. criminal
  2. unlawful
  3. rebellious
  4. illicit
  5. anarchic
  6. felonious
  7. disorderly
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
Adjective
  • In a blow to the investment migration industry, the European Union's top court ruled Malta's golden passport program unlawful in April 2025, declaring that EU citizenship could not be sold.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • In a blow to the investment migration industry, the European Union’s top court ruled Malta’s golden passport program unlawful in April 2025, declaring that EU citizenship could not be sold.
    — Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of unlawful
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
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
Adjective
  • The poet, Pavese implies, is a creature of Chaos—that anarchic state in which good is mixed with bad and monsters mingle with men and gods.
    — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Together, the two embark on an anarchic mother-and-daughter journey to reconnect.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of anarchic
Adjective
  • The two were sentenced in Michigan to one year of probation in December 2025, and pleaded guilty to felonious telecommunications fraud in Ohio in 2022.
    — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Exton was also convicted of two counts of felonious assault, with sentencing enhancements linked to all three charges, the prosecutor’s office said.
    — Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of felonious
Adjective
  • Loyal Maids in Extravagant Mansions While Solana is a disorderly servant, Clarita reflects the trope of the loyal maid of the higher class, the societal expectation in the region.
    — Damaly Gonzalez, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • This concern increases tenfold for flight attendants, as a negative interaction isn’t necessarily fleeting; they may be stuck in the air with rude or disorderly passengers for several hours.
    — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of disorderly

Browse Nearby Words

lawgivers
lawless
lawlessness
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Cite this Entry

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

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