1
as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
the lawless rioters were destroying everything in sight
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of lawless
Under the guise of protecting freedom of expression, complete lawless zones have flourished.
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Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024
What happens now? July 7, 2024 In lawless Gaza, cigarette smuggling fuels attacks on aid trucks
July 8, 2024
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—Kareem Fahim, Washington Post, 28 July 2024
If only there were a place for all this—a forum big and lawless enough to host several generations’ worth of eclectic culinary lore.
—Ruby Tandoh, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2024
Their story of the frontier, for example, focuses on dangers facing women in a lawless men’s world that certainly would not have troubled John Ford.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lawless 
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024
What happens now? July 7, 2024 In lawless Gaza, cigarette smuggling fuels attacks on aid trucks
July 8, 2024
Subscribe to comment and get the full experience.
—Kareem Fahim, Washington Post, 28 July 2024
If only there were a place for all this—a forum big and lawless enough to host several generations’ worth of eclectic culinary lore.
—Ruby Tandoh, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2024
Their story of the frontier, for example, focuses on dangers facing women in a lawless men’s world that certainly would not have troubled John Ford.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lawless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawless
Adjective
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Ver’s case also serves as a reminder that with criminal tax matters, the U.S. government has certain helpful provisions in the tax law that can extend the statute of limitations.Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
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All four broke with party leaders in Sacramento to support Proposition 36, the criminal justice reform measure that passed with overwhelming support.Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
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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Currently incarcerated in Utah, YoungBoy faces six charges of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, as well as charges related to a pattern of unlawful activity stemming from a May 2023 arrest.Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 11 Dec. 2024
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Some are called because of incorrect ingredient information on packet labels or unlawful importation, for example.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Unconventional and futuristic, Aquarius pushes us to break free from tradition, encouraging bold, rebellious choices in our wardrobe.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024
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The film follows a rebellious horse trainer named Tabitha who, after the death of her husband, tries to find some financial stability.Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The woman, 29, arrived at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand on a flight from Vancouver on December 8 carrying the illicit drugs in her carry-on bag, according to a release from the New Zealand Customs Service.Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2024
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Most drones that are sighted appear to be larger than typical hobbyist models, which has also heightened concerns about their potential use for surveillance or other illicit purposes.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Their just cause is hijacked by an extremist within their ranks, who is ready to murder everyone in the building to send his anarchic message to the world.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024
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Christmas Vacation excels best in the chaos, from Clark’s yuppie neighbors being perpetually tormented by him to the anarchic family dinners (blissfully unaware Aunt Bethany is our personal MVP).EW.com, EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Stiles pleaded guilty in 2005 to felonious assault after he was accused of hitting and shaking his girlfriend's infant son, Carl Legget Jr., causing brain damage.Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2024
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In September, Myra’s grandmother, 43-year-old Mia Harris, pleaded guilty to felonious assault, and on Oct. 29 she was sentenced to nine to 12 years in prison.John Johnston, The Enquirer, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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He was released on bond after paying a $500 disorderly intoxication fine and a $150 citation for trespassing.Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Aug. 2024
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Scott was arrested and booked into Miami-Dade County Jail in June on charges of trespass and disorderly intoxication.Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, 9 Aug. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Lawless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawless. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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