Antonyms for unlawful
ʌnˈlɔ fəlun·law·ful

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. unlawful

   Every criminal act is illegal or unlawful, but illegal or unlawful acts may not be criminal. Offenses against public law are criminal; offenses against private rights are merely illegal or unlawful. As a general rule, all acts punishable by fine or imprisonment or both, are criminal in view of the law. It is illegal for a man to trespass on another's land, but it is not criminal; the trespasser is liable to a civil suit for damages, but not to indictment, fine, or imprisonment. A felonious act is a criminal act of an aggravated kind, which is punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary or by death. A flagitious crime is one that brings public odium. Vicious refers to the indulgence of evil appetites, habits, or passions; vicious acts are not necessarily criminal, or even illegal; we speak of a vicious horse. That which is iniquitous, i. e., contrary to equity, may sometimes be done under the forms of law. Ingratitude is sinful, hypocrisy is wicked, but neither is punishable by human law; hence, neither is criminal or illegal. Compare SIN.

   Antonyms:
   innocent, just, lawful, legal, meritorious, moral, right, virtuous

   Synonyms:
   abominable, criminal, culpable, felonious, flagitious, guilty, illegal, immoral, iniquitous, nefarious, sinful, vicious, vile, wicked, wrong

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. improper, unconventional, unlawfuladjective

   not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention

   "an unconventional marriage"; "improper banking practices"

   Antonyms:
   law-abiding, legitimate, regular, licit, lawful, observant, legal

   Synonyms:
   wrongful, illicit, outlaw(a), improper, outlawed, wrong, unconventional, illegitimate

2. unlawfuladjective

   contrary to or prohibited by or defiant of law

   "unlawful measures"; "unlawful money"; "unlawful hunters"

   Antonyms:
   law-abiding, licit, observant, regular, legal, lawful, legitimate

   Synonyms:
   illegitimate, illicit, outlaw(a), wrongful, improper, unconventional, outlawed

3. unlawfuladjective

   not morally right or permissible

   "unlawful love"

   Antonyms:
   legal, legitimate, observant, law-abiding, lawful, licit, regular

   Synonyms:
   illegitimate, illicit, outlaw(a), wrongful, improper, unconventional, outlawed

4. unlawful, wrongfuladjective

   having no legally established claim

   "the wrongful heir to the throne"

   Antonyms:
   licit, regular, law-abiding, observant, lawful, legitimate, legal

   Synonyms:
   illicit, outlaw(a), improper, outlawed, wrongful, unconventional, illegitimate

5. illegitimate, illicit, outlaw(a), outlawed, unlawfuladjective

   contrary to or forbidden by law

   "an illegitimate seizure of power"; "illicit trade"; "an outlaw strike"; "unlawful measures"

   Antonyms:
   legitimate, lawful, licit, law-abiding, legal, regular, observant

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. unlawfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   illegal, illicit, contraband, illegitimate, unlicensed

How to use unlawful in a sentence?

1. Chief Justice Roy Moore:

   If it's an unlawful mandate you can refuse to mandate it. You can dissent to the United States Supreme Court.

2. President Biden:

   We know that safe, orderly and legal migration is good for all our economies. But we need to halt the dangerous and unlawful ways people are migrating and the dangerous ways.

3. Rob Portman:

   I'm pleased to see that they are finally taking some actions to secure our border – now is not the time to incentivize unlawful migration or the influx of deadly fentanyl by continuing their failed policies, i call on the Biden administration to install the technology Border Patrol needs to complete their mission, close all the gaps in the border wall, and to implement policies to curb the influx of unlawful migrants and illicit narcotics.

4. Human Rights Watch:

   Settlement businesses depend on and benefit from Israel's unlawful confiscation of Palestinian land and other resources, and facilitate the functioning and growth of settlements.

5. Geoffrey Berman:

   Unlawful disclosure of classified intelligence can pose a grave threat to our national security, potentially endangering the safety of Americans.

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