lawless
3 synonyms and 5 antonyms for lawless, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Having no laws or effective government controlling it.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
anarchical
anarchic
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Having no laws or effective government controlling it.
“The frontier town was virtually lawless in its early years.”
How to use lawless
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a lawless society
lawless behaviour
Etymology
From Middle English laweles — "law" plus the negating suffix "-less."
Full origin of lawless →Frequently asked questions
What does “lawless” mean?
The word “lawless” means having no laws or effective government controlling it. In plain terms, without law, or refusing to obey it.
How do you pronounce “lawless”?
“Lawless” is pronounced LAW-luhs (/ˈlɔːləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “lawless” in a sentence?
Here is “lawless” used in a sentence: “The frontier town was virtually lawless in its early years.”
What part of speech is “lawless”?
“Lawless” is an adjective.
Where does the word “lawless” come from?
The word “lawless” comes from Middle English. From Middle English laweles — "law" plus the negating suffix "-less.".
Is “lawless” a common word?
“Lawless” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “lawless” have?
“Lawless” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having no laws or effective government controlling it.
