unlawful

adjective

ˌən-ˈlȯ-fəl How to pronounce unlawful (audio)
Definition of unlawfulnext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unlawful Yet the lawyers chosen to represent the colonies nevertheless concluded that lawful government had become an unlawful government. — Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The court, divided 6-3, ruled that the executive order Trump issued on the first day of his second term was unlawful. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 1 July 2026 Meanwhile in San Jose, police declared an unlawful assembly when a World Cup celebration became unruly late Tuesday night. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Dennis Truelove, 66, of Hot Springs faces charges of first-degree criminal impersonation, unlawful use of blue lights and multiple traffic offenses, state police said in a news release. — Arkansas Online, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unlawful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlawful
  1. illicit
  2. immoral
  3. criminal
  4. evil
  5. sinful
  6. vicious
  7. vile
  8. bad
Adjective
  • As a result, the bill would leave parts of the crypto ecosystem vulnerable to exploitation by terrorists, sanctions evaders, fraudsters, and other illicit actors under the guise of technological neutrality.
    — Richard Nephew, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • Though the film ends with Lori and John getting married (despite Ted's various illicit shenanigans), Ted 2 reveals that the pair have divorced.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026
Definition of illicit
Adjective
  • Some rabbinic readings attribute Lot’s hesitation to leave Sodom to his immoral greed and inordinate wealth.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • Court records show that 60-year-old Bradley Kyle Martin, of Dearborn Heights, is charged with using a computer or internet to communicate with another person to commit a crime and accosting children for immoral purposes.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Definition of immoral
Adjective
  • Kayden Bordley, 19, faces one count each of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal action, according to a Jackson County charging document.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
  • The Chino Police Department is leading the criminal investigation.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • Through Latin and early Christian usage, the word took on its modern sense of an evil supernatural spirit.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • When it was overturned, however, the United States rightly or wrongly became the evil empire to the rest of world soccer.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2026
Definition of evil
Adjective
  • Critics also have challenged the report’s characterization of cases involving women, contending these were consensual affairs that were sinful but not abusive.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026
  • Naim and his overly anxious single mom (Mia Wasikowska) attend rote church services in which the pastor looks to exorcise the LGBTQ+ from sinful boys who like boys and girls who like girls.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
Definition of sinful
Adjective
  • The early Cold War liberals had read their history books and seen how the French Revolution had begun with high progressive hopes but descended into a vicious bloodbath.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • After a similarly vicious storm struck the New York area late Friday, hundreds of thousands of utility customers were left without power, trains to New Jersey were canceled and thousands of trees were damaged or uprooted.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • Frazier eagerly reposted a vile lie claiming Israelis drop bombs disguised as toys to murder children—originally posted by a UK activist facing terror charges for backing Hamas.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • The congressmen and senators who support this provision should be voted out of office because Section 224 is so vile.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 June 2026
Definition of vile
Adjective
  • Despite concerns that California’s costs and regulations are bad for business, the state has attracted an unprecedented pile of capital this year, and no other state is even close.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • The Giants are now 39-54 this season, two games up on Colorado (38-57) for the worst record in the NL and second-worst in MLB.
    — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
Definition of bad

Browse Nearby Words

unlatching
unlawful
unlawfulness
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Cite this Entry

“Unlawful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlawful. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unlawful

Nglish: Translation of unlawful for Spanish Speakers

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