lawless

[ law-lis ]

/ ˈlɔ lɪs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lawless ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

contrary to or without regard for the law: lawless violence.

being without law; uncontrolled by a law; unbridled; unruly; unrestrained: lawless passion.

illegal: bootleggers' lawless activity.

Nearby words

lawful, lawgiver, lawin, lawing, lawks, lawless, lawmaker, lawman, lawn, lawn bowling, lawn chair

Origin of lawless

First recorded in 1150–1200, lawless is from the Middle English word laweles. See law¹, -less

Related forms

law·less·ly, adverblaw·less·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for lawless

The lawless law enforcement in eastern Ukraine exists somewhere between Soviet rule and vigilante justice.
The Corrupt Cops of Rebel-Held East Ukraine|Kristina Jovanovski|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The horrific case of an abandoned baby with Down syndrome has exposed the lawless world of international surrogacy.
The Wild, Wild West of Thai Surrogacy|Emily Shire|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The methamphetamine trade has made Wyoming revert to the lawless anarchy of the Old West,” he remarked pungently.
The Myths of Matthew Shepard’s Infamous Death|Stephen Jimenez|September 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If you are willing to shoot your mother in the face you are lawless.
Pro-Gun Advocates Push Back Against Gun Control After Newtown|David Freedlander|December 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST

It even had a name, Waziristan House, after one of the most lawless districts along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Dr. Afridi’s Warning: Pakistan’s Hatred of the United States|Bruce Riedel|September 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The town had never been lawless, although some lawless people had sojourned there.
Wild Youth, Volume Complete|Gilbert Parker
For an indolent and lawless imagination force of character is the only whip, force of intellect the only guide.
Pot-Boilers|Clive Bell
The name of the most celebrated and most lawless of their race stirred them to their souls.
The Firebrand|S. R. Crockett
At last Lawless could stand it no longer and, almost foaming at the mouth, hurried to the operator's room.
Commander Lawless V.C.|Rolf Bennett
Yet even now temptation was sometimes too strong for lawless men.
The Elephant God|Gordon Casserly

British Dictionary definitions for lawless

lawless

/ (ˈlɔːlɪs) /

adjective

without law

disobedient to the law

contrary to or heedless of the law

uncontrolled; unbridledlawless rage

Derived Forms

lawlessly, adverblawlessness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

lawless

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of lawless

Related forms

Examples from the Web for lawless

British Dictionary definitions for lawless

lawless

adjective

Derived Forms