Synonyms 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.

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

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

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. improper, unconventional, unlawfuladjective

   not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention

   "an unconventional marriage"; "improper banking practices"

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

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

2. unlawfuladjective

   contrary to or prohibited by or defiant of law

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

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

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

3. unlawfuladjective

   not morally right or permissible

   "unlawful love"

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

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

4. unlawful, wrongfuladjective

   having no legally established claim

   "the wrongful heir to the throne"

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

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

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

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. unlawfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   illegal, illicit, unlicensed

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

1. unlawfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   illegal, illicit, contraband, illegitimate, unlicensed

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:5.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "unlawful":

   illegal, illicit, wrongful, illegitimate, illegally, irregular, unlawfully, unauthorised, law-breaking

How to pronounce unlawful?

How to say unlawful in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use unlawful in a sentence?

1. Marc Short:

   The White House position remains the same, that we will not negotiate the status of 690,000 unlawful immigrants while hundreds of millions of taxpaying Americans, including hundreds of thousands of our troops in uniform and border agents protecting our country, are held hostage by Senate Democrats.

2. Jake Wark:

   We expect to select a new court date in the coming days and then set the amended trial track. The Suffolk indictments allege two counts of first-degree murder for the July 16, 2012, shooting deaths of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in Boston's South End; three counts of armed assault with intent to murder and one count of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon for shots fired at three surviving victims; and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.

3. Joseph T. Chew:

   Expecting a carjacker or rapist or drug pusher to care that his possession or use of a gun is unlawful is like expecting a terrorist to care that his car bomb is taking up two parking spaces.

4. The ACLU:

   We cannot allow racist and armed vigilantes to kidnap and detain people seeking asylum, we urge you to immediately investigate this atrocious and unlawful conduct.

5. Liberty Institute:

   Government officials telling little girls The Fraisers ca n’t mention God is not the law, it’s unlawful discrimination and it’s morally wrong.