1
as in anarchy
a state in which there is widespread wrongdoing and disregard for rules and authority
the western frontier was notorious for its lawlessness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crime
activities that are in violation of the laws of the state
lawlessness in the city had reached an unconscionable and intolerable level
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Recent Examples of lawlessness
Later, Venezuelans fled economic chaos and lawlessness under the repressive regimes of Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez.
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Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
The sight of encampments and people in the throes of psychosis in the streets drives perceptions of lawlessness and danger, studies show.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
But the lawlessness embodied in spheres-of-influence politics would most likely unleash an ever more frenzied scramble for the continent’s resources by predatory midsize powers.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
The United States has now given Russia, China, and anyone else who wants to give it a try a road map for invading countries and capturing leaders who displease them, with a lawlessness that by comparison makes the 2003 invasion of Iraq seem as lawyered up as a bank merger.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Doing so would certainly count as a counterattack against the president’s lawlessness.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
Over the years, stories of lawlessness on cruises have both captivated and horrified travelers, with experts often pointing out how the unique environment often serves as a hotbed for bad actors and troublesome events.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025
For many of the protesters, a general sense of lawlessness – not supported by official crime figures for England and Wales, which broadly show a decrease over the past decade – had coagulated into a specific fear of migrants.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
One piece of lawlessness leads to another.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawlessness
Noun
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Through her eyes, flashes of life (and anarchy, and newness) still burst through.—
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Throwing one’s hands up, in resignation or indifference, captures the anarchy that seems to characterize our digital lives.—
Noun
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Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage?—
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Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime.—
Noun
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At this time there is nothing to suggest any criminality with respect to their venture.—
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Police are investigating if any criminality was involved.—
Cite this Entry
“Lawlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawlessness. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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