How to Use lawful in a Sentence

lawful

adjective
Definition of lawfulnext
Synonyms for lawfulnext
  • Far more Venezuelans are now arriving through lawful channels, according to the data.
    — Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 18 July 2024
  • The majority also ruled his commitment was lawful and did not violate his due process rights or rely on insufficient evidence.
    — Bruce Vielmetti, Journal Sentinel, 28 June 2022
  • The indictment alleges that the Proud Boys conspired to forcibly oppose the lawful transfer of presidential power.
    — Nick Perry, USA TODAY, 30 June 2022
  • That strategy targeted low-level crimes in hopes that enforcement would lead to a reduction in other crimes by creating a more lawful environment.
    — Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2024
  • Griffin did state in a contempt order that multiple direct orders were given and Comstock willfully refused to follow the court's lawful order.
    — Tracy Neal, Arkansas Online, 9 July 2022
  • The form must be authorized by the debtor to be lawful.
    — Molly Stellino, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2022
  • While the facts are sordid, NDAs are lawful and common.
    — The Editors, National Review, 29 May 2024
  • The three-judge panel found Ridgell's cannabis use was lawful and did not amount to child neglect.
    — Mary Jo Pitzl, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2023
  • The group therefore predicts that the number of lawful instances could pass 1 million at some point in the next three years.
    — Alicia Chen, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022
  • His lawful and just sentence must be carried out as ordered by the court.
    — Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 30 Jan. 2024
  • Rhodes and the others stand accused of conspiring to use force to oppose the lawful transfer of power to Joe Biden.
    — Spencer S. Hsu, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Sep. 2022
  • Also, be familiar with what species of bait is lawful to catch and keep when cast netting.
    — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 4 Jan. 2024
  • More than 8,400 troops who declined to get the vaccine were forced out of the military for refusing to obey a lawful order.
    — Meg Kinnard, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2023
  • The lawful pathways will provide safety in order for them.
    — CBS News, 7 May 2023
  • For migrants, the formula for finding a lawful job is not so simple.
    — Hillary Chura, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Jan. 2024
  • The goal, Frost said, is not to take away guns from lawful owners, but to implement common sense gun control policies to save lives.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
  • The point is not to choose between them: This is a lawful publication staffed by chaotic readers.
    — A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 June 2023
  • Using these methods, the six are alleged to have killed possibly dozens of mules and bucks within and outside the lawful season.
    — Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024
  • In June, the Utah Supreme Court ruled the port authority lawful and legitimate.
    — Blake Apgar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Oct. 2022
  • Both refugees and asylees have a pathway to lawful permanent residence.
    — Zaeem Shaikh, Dallas News, 9 Mar. 2023
  • The man faces charges of motor vehicle theft and two counts of 1st degree assault, two counts of second- degree assault, and failing to obey a lawful order.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN, 13 May 2023
  • The other lawsuit challenged the use of unmonitored drop boxes, which the judge also ruled as lawful.
    — Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 July 2024
  • This harm would be felt throughout the country, given that mifepristone has lawful uses in every State.
    — Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2023
  • So, first of all, President Biden has led the greatest expansions of lawful pathways ever.
    — ABC News, 14 May 2023
  • The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was the first major attempt by Congress to define what would be lawful on the internet.
    — Melissa Gira Grant, The New Republic, 1 Aug. 2022
  • His possession of them is entirely consistent with that right, and therefore lawful, regardless of the statutes the FBI cites in its warrant.
    — David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey, WSJ, 22 Aug. 2022
  • The intention is to provide students with a greater understanding of the lawful possession and use of guns, gun crime and injuries, and the future of gun politics.
    — David Yamane, The Conversation, 26 June 2023
  • This legislation makes hemp and its derivatives lawful in all 50 states, as well as parts of Canada.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 2 Nov. 2022
  • Even lending or gifting a book to another is perfectly lawful, since at some point in the process the book was purchased, and some portion of the purchase price ended up in the author’s pocket.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2023
  • Attorney Tom Yu, who is representing the deputy involved, said his client conducted a lawful stop and then behaved just as he was trained.
    — Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lawful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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