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
Turpin was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of marijuana, the outlets reported.
—
Bailey Richards, People.com, 6 July 2025
Social media or website ads would be unlawful unless the advertiser expects 73.6% or more of the audience to be 21 or older, the same standard used voluntarily by the alcohol industry.
—Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 6 July 2025
In accordance with the new legislation by Majlis, sparked by the unlawful attacks against our nuclear facilities by Israel and the U.S., our cooperation with @iaeaorg will be channeled through Iran's Supreme National Security Council for obvious safety and security reasons.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
The majority holds that, absent cumbersome class-action litigation, courts cannot completely enjoin even such plainly unlawful policies unless doing so is necessary to afford the formal parties complete relief.
—Erwin Chemerinsky, Mercury News, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Bailey Richards, People.com, 6 July 2025
Social media or website ads would be unlawful unless the advertiser expects 73.6% or more of the audience to be 21 or older, the same standard used voluntarily by the alcohol industry.
—Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 6 July 2025
In accordance with the new legislation by Majlis, sparked by the unlawful attacks against our nuclear facilities by Israel and the U.S., our cooperation with @iaeaorg will be channeled through Iran's Supreme National Security Council for obvious safety and security reasons.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
The majority holds that, absent cumbersome class-action litigation, courts cannot completely enjoin even such plainly unlawful policies unless doing so is necessary to afford the formal parties complete relief.
—Erwin Chemerinsky, Mercury News, 3 July 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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The Mann Act, also known as the White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910, is a federal law that prohibits the interstate or foreign transportation of individuals for prostitution or other immoral activities.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
3 July 2025
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What Ukraine needs now is the time, tools, and space to prove to the Kremlin that an occupation is not just immoral but incompatible with Russia’s long-term security needs.—
Michael Carpenter,
Foreign Affairs,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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In Sarasota, Hoffman told reporters an illicit casino in his jurisdiction also refused to pay a woman who reportedly won a $4,000 jackpot.—
Josh Salman,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
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And the same evidence that linked children to biological relatives could spur a criminal case against their adoptive parents, some of whom had ties to the military and its illicit actions.—
Julia M. Klein,
The Atlantic,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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After an early tutorial sequence where players learn the ropes of controlling the powerful yet agile ape, the story introduces its antagonists: Void Company, an evil corporate mining operation hell-bent on creating a golden banana monopoly.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 July 2025
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They weren’t built by the government, but rather by those evil greedy private corporations and individuals who are guilty of the heinous crime of providing millions of Americans with places to live.—
The Editors,
National Review,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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This panel will examine mass incarceration through multiple lenses and how the criminal justice system serves as a point of crisis of public health, black wealth building, voter disenfranchisement, and family structure.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 July 2025
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The incident took place at the Norwood Avenue subway station at 9 a.m. Marshall was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, as well as third-degree assault and second-degree harassment.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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And then, on top of it, I was born out of some affair like some illegitimate, sinful mistake?—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
28 June 2025
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In New York, the story goes that the sloppily sinful sandwich on rye bread was named for the founder of New York’s Reuben Restaurant.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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The author presents a vicious takedown of George Washington.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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Stanton, demonstrating that there’s still plenty of power in his vicious swing, sent the pitch 401 feet the other way at 106.1 mph.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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The tweets, a vile departure from Elmo’s often inspiring and motivational social media cadence, were sent on July 13 and promptly taken down.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
14 July 2025
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Michael Kracker, the chair of the Erie County Republican Committee, posted the image on X, formerly Twitter, describing it as vile.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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