English Dictionary

Definition of “lawless

lawless (ˈlɔːlɪsPronunciation for lawless

Definitions

adjective

  1. without law
  2. disobedient to the law
  3. contrary to or heedless of the law
  4. uncontrolled; unbridled  ⇒ lawless rage 

Alternative Forms

ˈlawlessly adverb ˈlawlessness noun

Usage examples

  • `And," I went on, `if we once lived in a naturally lawless state, like animals - `'Not animals, Ned," Traveller corrected me.
    Baxter, Stephen, Anti-Ice (1993)
  • It is all of a piece with the growing tendency to criminalise the law-abiding, yet the lawless get off scot-free.
    Country Life (2005)
  • But sporadic fighting continues between militiamen, rebels and government troops in the lawless northeast.
    canada.com (2005)
  • Even in the more lawless rural areas, where warlords are still the unspoken leaders, hundreds of people have shown a desire to be involved.
    Belfast Telegraph (2004)
  • As King of Scotland he had experienced the annoyance of Irish MacDonnells ' and Scottish Macdonalds ' lawless ways.
    Frank Welsh, THE FOUR NATIONS: A History of the United Kingdom (2002)

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