1
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
it is unlawful to set off fireworks within the city limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immoral
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
a sympathetic look at the unlawful love between a married physician and an adoring colleague
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unlawful
Democratic attorneys general in 22 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming the freeze is unlawful.
—
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
The settlement announcement comes just weeks after Uber sued DoorDash over another unlawful practice.
—Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 26 Feb. 2025
What to watch: Also on Monday, an independent federal oversight agency said that some of the administration's mass firings of probationary workers were unlawful, per a report in Government Executive.
—Emily Peck, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025
The lawsuit claims that the revocation is unlawful, politically motivated, racially biased, and part of a broader pattern of discrimination against non-European and non-white immigrants.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
The settlement announcement comes just weeks after Uber sued DoorDash over another unlawful practice.
—Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 26 Feb. 2025
What to watch: Also on Monday, an independent federal oversight agency said that some of the administration's mass firings of probationary workers were unlawful, per a report in Government Executive.
—Emily Peck, Axios, 24 Feb. 2025
The lawsuit claims that the revocation is unlawful, politically motivated, racially biased, and part of a broader pattern of discrimination against non-European and non-white immigrants.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlawful
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
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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
-
Under Taliban rule, morality laws are strictly enforced, and activities considered immoral or against Islamic principles—such as pornography, adultery, or LGBTQ+ content—are harshly punished.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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Some view his proposal to take over Gaza as outlandish or immoral, and are no fans of Israel’s right-wing government.—
Katie Glueck,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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And Elliston Berry, who became a victim of an illicit deep fake image produced by a peer.—
TIME Staff,
TIME,
5 Mar. 2025
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According to a 2024 press release from America's Poison Centers, calls to poison centers for illicit fentanyl exposure in children under the age of 6 increased from 10 cases in 2016 to 539 in 2023.—
Megan Forrester,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Fans have long waited to see how the show, produced by Skybound Entertainment, adapts this massive event from Kirkman's comics, which sees Angstrom (Sterling K. Brown) assemble an army of evil Marks from alternate dimensions to lay siege to Earth.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
6 Mar. 2025
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Hot on the trail of a new brood of evil Mogwai, our heroes journey deep into the American West, coming up against new supernatural creatures and picking up a few mysterious characters along the way.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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The dominant Christian theology of the Middle Ages held that wealth was inherently sinful in a world where most people toiled in terrible poverty.—
Brian Klaas,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
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The concept of sinful sexuality and the lack of education around it is a clever mechanism to disconnect individuals from their inner source of power.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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More than 80 women went public with horrific tales of his brutal, coercive and punishing tactics, including launching vicious, career-crippling smear campaigns against those who eluded him, from Mira Sorvino to Ashley Judd.—
Scott Huver,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
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Rushdie has since spoken out about the stabbing Rushdie, 77, testified in the Chautauqua County, New York trial and detailed the vicious attack that upended his life.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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As are the people supporting or justifying these vile acts of terrorism.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Feb. 2025
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And for anyone who's forgotten just how vile Whitfield is, the next scene serves as a nasty reminder.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.
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