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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unlawful
If these requirements are not met, the search is unreasonable and therefore unlawful, and evidence obtained in that search cannot be used in court, barring a good-faith exception.
—
Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2026
According to a federal indictment, charges against Van Dyke include unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, and multiple kinds of fraud.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Beatty’s lawsuit has grown to cover both the renaming and the closure of the center, arguing the moves were unlawful and violated the duties of the organization’s board.
—Steven Portnoy, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
Ashley Mack and Mia Shaw were both charged with armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and second degree burglary, according to a news release from Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2026
According to a federal indictment, charges against Van Dyke include unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, and multiple kinds of fraud.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Beatty’s lawsuit has grown to cover both the renaming and the closure of the center, arguing the moves were unlawful and violated the duties of the organization’s board.
—Steven Portnoy, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
Ashley Mack and Mia Shaw were both charged with armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and second degree burglary, according to a news release from Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
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
-
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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Pope Francis changed the church’s social teaching to declare capital punishment immoral in all cases.—
Nicole Winfield,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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For him, in becoming photosynthetic, civilized beings would only gain in hallmarks of intelligence, like autonomy and compassion, given that a species living off starlight converts energy to work without the messy, immoral mediation of a food chain.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The proposal would specifically define terms like event contracts while also requiring exchanges to implement safeguards against advertising, illicit finance, and fund segregation.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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Her government has handed over scores of cartel suspects to the United States, arrested hundreds of other cartel operatives and busted numerous illicit drug laboratories, among other steps.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For one thing, when extremely evil people never seem to get their righteous and fiery comeuppance, my rage can curdle a bit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
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Because instead of some hot, evil British woman who could show him the time of his life, Vish is stuck on this trip with me, the world’s first living fossil.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Federal authorities leading investigation The FBI is leading the criminal probe while the Secret Service is focusing on the suspect's behavioral profile, a senior law enforcement official briefed on the bicoastal investigation told USA TODAY.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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In a new book, Geoff Kelly traces how the artworks moved through criminal networks, where violence took the lives of key suspects and witnesses, and challenges long-circulating theories by revisiting key details.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Christian moralists thundered against the sinful pleasures of watching naked female flesh at the Spectacles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
His father, who believes Sammie's music to be sinful, orders him to drop the guitar, but Sammie can't do it.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The betrayal of Zambada sparked a vicious battle for control of the Sinaloa cartel that has resulted in thousands of deaths.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Back in 2023, he was suspended during the playoffs for a vicious cross-check to the head of Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The bleak tortures Ohm concocts for his characters are as vile as the Bilberry’s fetid jacuzzi.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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There’s something vile, yet attractive about the film, an encapsulation of the fact that people and the internet are downright weird.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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