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

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How to use unlawful in a sentence?

1. Benjamin Crump:

   This was no accident. This was an intentional, deliberate, and unlawful use of force, driving while Black continues to result in a death sentence.

2. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson:

   What it means is if anyone posts this information online, they are in violation of federal law and can suffer very serious consequences. So, it makes it unlawful to post that information and make it available to the public.

3. Hong Kong police:

   These destructive acts have posed a grave threat to the safety of people at scene, police warn all rioters to stop the unlawful acts.

4. John Sandweg:

   It's ridiculous, i think these agreements are unlawful and unenforceable.

5. Omar Jadwat:

   Under this unlawful plan, immigrants who have lived here for years would be deported with less due process than people get in traffic court. We will sue to end this policy quickly.