1
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
it is unlawful to set off fireworks within the city limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
The program, introduced by former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, allowed migrants from those four countries to come to the U.S. for up to two years as part of an effort to reduce unlawful border crossings.
—
Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 May 2025
Thompson was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, unlawful carrying of a handgun and a gun enhancement, but Senior Judge Kathleen Lang only had jurors deliberate on the murder charge.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
These dwellings, especially in New York’s outer boroughs, range from crowded but legitimate sublets to dangerous and unlawful boarding houses.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Of note: Your Content must not be false, defamatory, misleading or hateful, or infringe any copyright or any other third-party rights or otherwise be unlawful.
—Catherine Pearson, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 May 2025
Thompson was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, unlawful carrying of a handgun and a gun enhancement, but Senior Judge Kathleen Lang only had jurors deliberate on the murder charge.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
These dwellings, especially in New York’s outer boroughs, range from crowded but legitimate sublets to dangerous and unlawful boarding houses.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Of note: Your Content must not be false, defamatory, misleading or hateful, or infringe any copyright or any other third-party rights or otherwise be unlawful.
—Catherine Pearson, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlawful
Adjective
-
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
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
Adjective
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Altering Medicaid in any way that decreases services, decreases funding to the states, or builds roadblocks to care is immoral and against Christian values.—
Dr. James W. Cox-Chapman,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2025
-
Under him, juvenile justice is unjust, and the department has been spending in ways that are immoral and not proper accounting or spending of taxes.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Without effective safeguards in place, there are considerable risks to all businesses along alcohol supply chains of becoming implicated in illicit trading.—
Mark Littler,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
-
Robert Holden, a Queens City Council member that represents the area, shared a video on X during the 2024 raid that showed a sheriff’s deputy flipping a switch that changed the counter display glass from frosted to clear, revealing shelves of illicit weed products.—
Ashley Southall,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
Will the company itself go rogue and opt to use AGI for evil deeds?—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
-
In an incisive observation of the way that an adult’s words can sometimes settle on a child with unusual weight, I-Jing absorbs this folk superstition without question, and begins to shoplift gaudy trinkets from surrounding market stalls, only ever using her evil left hand.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Finally, get to grips with the fact that this dataset only includes passwords that have become publicly available in criminal forums online.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
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Agents were driving down Anderson Road in unmarked cars when Perez-Rodriguez allegedly walked into the roadway holding a machete, according to a criminal complaint.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
3 May 2025
Adjective
-
The sinful acts on display here are a direct result of that disenfranchisement, an effort to reclaim what is still owed, forty acres and a mule, with interest.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2025
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Pope Gregory, believing these demons to be an indication of Magdalene’s excessively sinful past, identified her as an unnamed woman in Luke who wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair.—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But even when locked in a tense, deadly standoff with the vicious Barbie, Moulin doesn’t break, and his courage and silence helps lead to the liberation of France, while leaving behind a new spirit of strength and resistance.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
10 May 2025
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Bone Tomahawk Year: 2015 Runtime: 2h 11m Director: S. Craig Zahler S. Craig Zahler has become one of the most divisive filmmakers working today after three vicious, brutal movies — Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
Twain’s early writing and private letters and diaries contain vile language and sentiments.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
-
The Imperial City Sewers you’re meant to traverse while learning the basics of the game look hideous and vile.—
Jamal Michel,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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