as in criminal
not restrained by or under the control of legal authority
some sociologists specialize in studying the lawbreaking elements of society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code
even something as simple as littering is considered an example of lawbreaking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in criminality
activities that are in violation of the laws of the state
an outbreak of lawbreaking plagued the city in the months following the end of the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lawbreaking
Adjective
-
Caleb McCray, 23, a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, was charged with manslaughter and felony criminal hazing, according to court records.—
Neil Vigdor,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2025 -
The court said the investigative agency that detained Yoon before his formal arrest didn’t have legal rights to investigate the criminal rebellion charges.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The case has unnerved officials in Bangkok, worried about damage to Thailand's tourism industry due to fears of cross-border crime.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
-
In February, the city saw a 14.5% decline in major crime compared to the same month in 2024.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
No cause of death has been confirmed, but the NYPD says no criminality is suspected.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Police also told the site that Trachtenberg died of natural causes and that criminality was not suspected in her death.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Boon will play Eddie Harrigan, Kevin’s rebellious son.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2025
-
In addition, parents who are too strict might even end up with kids who are extra rebellious.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
26 Feb. 2025
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
Noun
-
The violations for each of the officers included standard of conduct violations, death investigation procedure violations and report preparation violations.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Poppy Alexander, a partner at Whistleblower Partners who represents whistleblowers reporting corporate FCPA violations, echoes this thinking.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Somewhat sharper are the characters who start out already well-versed in the illicit trade.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
5 Mar. 2025
-
And Elliston Berry, who became a victim of an illicit deep fake image produced by a peer.—
TIME Staff,
TIME,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Luther taught instead that God freely forgives the sins of believers.—
Michael Bruening,
The Conversation,
25 Feb. 2025
-
The pope’s hospitalization comes during the Vatican’s celebration of the jubilee, a tradition in the Catholic Church dedicated to the remission of sins that occurs every 50 years.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC News,
22 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Lawbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lawbreaking. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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