I did nothing unlawful.
Source: tatoeba (1879133)
Unlawful
Synonyms for "unlawful" (170 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (34)
Adjective(7 words)
aberrantabnormalabominableactionableagainst the lawanarchicanarchisticanomicatrociousbannedbarredblack marketblack-marketbootlegchargeablecontrabandcontrary to lawcriminalcrookeddelinquent
Show 2 more words
Verb(2 words)
Noun(3 words)
coerced agreementcriminal actcriminal process
Strong matches (51)
evilexceptionablefeloniousflawedforbadeforbidforbiddengnominioushardly the thingignominiousillegalillegitimateillicitimpermissibleimproperinappropriateincorrectindecorousinequitableinfamous
Show 6 more words
Verb(2 words)
Adjective(14 words)
forbiddenillegalillegal activityillegal ruleillegitimateillegitimate businessimproperinvalid reasoninglawless economylawless marketerlegal defectlegal wrongdoingmaterial unlawfulnessmisbegotten
Noun(9 words)
fornicatingillegal actinvalidlawbreakinglawless regimemolestingmore lawlessmost illegitimatemost lawless
Related words (85)
nefariousnonconstitutionalnonlegalnonlicitnonpermissiblenot donenot permittednot the thingobjectionableoff baseoff coloroff limitsoff-baseoff-colorout of boundsout of lineout-of-lineoutlawoutlawedprohibited
Show 44 more words
proscribedpunishableruled outsacrilegiousscandalousshamefulshamelesssinfultabootabooedterribletriableunallowedunauthorizedunbalancedunconstitutionalunder the banunder the tableunder-the-counterunder-the-tableundeservedundueunequalunevenunfitunfittingunlicensedunmeritedunofficialunpermissibleunreasonableunrighteousunsanctionedunseemlyunstatutoryunsuitableuntouchableunwarrantableunwarrantedverbotenvetoedwickedwrongwrongful
Adjective(12 words)
Verb(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: illicit, aberrant, abnormal, abominable, actionable.
- Sentence evidence is available for unlawful, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "unlawful".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "unlawful"
Keep "unlawful" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "unlawful" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "unlawful", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "unlawful" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesMore specific
3 entriesunlawful actunlawful detentionunlawful seizure
Antonyms
1 entriessimilar
10 entriesSample sentences
12 total sentences available.
I'm telling you for certain! That man's the worst of the worst! As he's the cream of the crime crop, you shouldn't be surprised that he's notorious for murder and unlawful subjugation.
Source: tatoeba (4603170)
Lady Stair sent him for answer, that her daughter, sensible of her undutiful behaviour in entering into a contract unsanctioned by her parents, had retracted her unlawful vow, and now refused to fulfil her engagement with him.
Source: tatoeba (7752075)
And when Hemor the father of Sichem was come out to speak to Jacob, behold his sons came from the field: and hearing what had passed, they were exceeding angry, because he had done a foul thing in Israel, and committed an unlawful act, in ravishing Jacob's daughter.
Source: tatoeba (7855429)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "unlawful"?
Closest matches include illicit, aberrant, abnormal, abominable, actionable.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "unlawful"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.