Synonyms for lawlessness
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Illegality — A lack of law; a lack of law and order; anarchy
Definitions
- n. 1
A lack of law; a lack of law and order; anarchy.
Near-synonyms: Wild West, free-for-all
Forms
- Plural
- lawlessnesses → illegalities, free-for-alls, unlawfulnesses, unlaws…
Choose the right word
Lawlessness is a temper of mind or condition of the community which may result in anarchy. Confusion, disorder, riot, and tumult are incidental and temporary outbreaks of lawlessness, but may not be anarchy.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- riot The authorities sent in troops to quell the riot.
- anarchy The country was in a state of anarchy at that time.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| lawlessness | steady | |
| illegality | falling | |
| unlawfulness | steady | |
| unlaw | falling | |
| riot | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- riot2
- 5 letters
- unlaw
- 7 letters
- license2, licence2, anarchy3
- 8 letters
- outlawry3
- 9 letters
- mobocracy
- 10 letters
- illegality5
- 11 letters
- illegalness, unrestraint
- 12 letters
- unlawfulness
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (riot2 = 2 syllables).