as in criminal
a person who has committed a crime
legislation that mandates lengthy prison sentences for chronic lawbreakers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lawbreaker
From blowing past a stop sign at Pittsburgh Arlington Pre K-8 to zipping through busy crosswalks outside schools in Beaver Falls, there were plenty of lawbreakers but not much law enforcement.
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Erika Stanish, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Some of the lawbreakers reportedly jumped on the hood of the police car, which was then hit with fireworks before catching fire.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 8 Oct. 2025
As this week’s Global Times article shows, China deplores being cast as a lawbreaker.
—Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
By night, several dozen lawbreakers became violent and destructive.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lawbreaker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawbreaker
Noun
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The first thing to do is to reduce the damage to the United States, the inflow of guns and criminals and immigrants and drugs into the United States, the destabilizing of a key part of the Western Hemisphere.—
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Also, place freezes with ChexSystems and the National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange to stop criminals from opening bank accounts, phone lines, or utility services in his name.—
Noun
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Boardman imposed a sentence of 97 months, citing Roske’s mental health and concerns about incarceration conditions and his status as a first-time criminal offender.—
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Since 2013, the law has allowed juvenile offenders serving life without parole to petition to have their sentence recalled and to be resentenced.—
Cite this Entry
“Lawbreaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawbreaker. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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