ICE's press release states that WSO officers "will not question individuals about their citizenship, alienage or removability, nor will they process aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States."
Source: tatoeba (11170298)
Unlawfully
/ʌnˈlɔːfəli/
Synonyms for "unlawfully" (18 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (4)
Noun(1 words)
act lawlessly
Adverb(2 words)
Verb(1 words)
disobey safety rules lawlessly
Strong matches (5)
Adverb(4 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (9)
Adverb(3 words)
Noun(6 words)
more lawlessmost illegitimatemost lawlessno autorizadooperate lawlesslytransgress lawlessly
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: act lawlessly, criminally, disobey safety rules lawlessly, illegally, illegitimately.
- Sentence evidence is available for unlawfully, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, opengloss.
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 "unlawfully".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "unlawfully"
Keep "unlawfully" 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 "unlawfully" 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 "unlawfully", 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 "unlawfully" 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 entriesadverbmanner adverb
More specific
3 entriesCollocations
5 entriesunlawfully alteredunlawfully claimedunlawfully disposedunlawfully manipulatedunlawfully obtained
Inflections
2 entriesmore unlawfullymost unlawfully
Derivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
The deceased was unlawfully killed during a riot.
Source: wiktionary
Look here, my body-snatchers, you have unlawfully abridged the liberty of one of the sons of the sovereign State of New York!
Source: wiktionary
The information charges that the said Flem Parker, on or about the 20th day of November, 1890, and before the filing of this information, at the county and state aforesaid, did willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously enter a certain barn […]
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "unlawfully"?
Closest matches include act lawlessly, criminally, disobey safety rules lawlessly, illegally, illegitimately.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "unlawfully"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.