View synonyms for

lawlessness

[ law-lis-nis ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the quality or condition of being without regard for the law; behavior that is contrary to or shows indifference to the law:
Unfortunately, a lot of confusion, lawlessness, stupidity, and even death surrounds alcohol use in college settings.
the state or condition of being without law or law enforcement to provide control or restraint:
For several months, the emerging nation looked as if it would slip into lawlessness and civil war.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of lawlessness¹

First recorded in 1585–95; lawless ( def ) + -ness ( def )

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He said you get "lawlessness" when a prison is destabilised by drugs, with drugs debts leading to violence and potentially self harm.

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It’s tempting to think of Donald Trump’s second term as a sui generis reign of lawlessness.

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But instead of line-crossing and then backtracking, Trump is doubling down on lawlessness and enjoying the bubbling constitutional crisis.

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Wilkinson said Garcia’s deportation threatens to “reduce the rule of law to lawlessness and tarnish the very values for which Americans of diverse views and persuasions have always stood.”

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Let’s be real — our country is on the brink of lawlessness, mostly because of the president’s claims that his powers exceed those of the courts.

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Related Words

lawless Law Lords

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