lawless
Americanadjective
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contrary to or without regard for the law.
lawless violence.
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being without law; uncontrolled by a law; unbridled; unruly; unrestrained.
lawless passion.
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illegal.
bootleggers' lawless activity.
adjective
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without law
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disobedient to the law
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contrary to or heedless of the law
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uncontrolled; unbridled
lawless rage
Other Word Forms
- lawlessly adverb
- lawlessness noun
Etymology
Origin of lawless
First recorded in 1150–1200; from Middle English laweles; law 1, -less
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Khrushchev angrily rejected Kennedy’s right to impose a quarantine, comparing Americans to lawless pirates.
From Literature
The LDS Church released a statement condemning the violence and lawless behavior.
From Los Angeles Times
Kitsch says his character is the opposite — he’s a wild card and more lawless.
From Los Angeles Times
“We demand an end to the lawless campaign of raids and arrests that has led to gross injustices like the imprisonment of our friend Rami, and so many others.”
From Los Angeles Times
"Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior," he added.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
