within the law

ADJECTIVE

legal

Synonyms

STRONGEST

constitutional contractual fair juridical lawful legitimate proper statutory valid

WEAK

acknowledged allowed authorized card-carrying chartered clean condign decreed due enforceable enforced enjoined forensic granted innocent judged judicial just justifiable justified legalized legit licit on the level on the up and up ordained passed precedented prescribed protected right rightful sanctioned sound straight sure-enough warranted

Antonyms

STRONGEST

illegal illegitimate invalid unacceptable unlawful

WEAK

illicit wrong

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Washington hit back, saying the Pentagon operates within the law and that contracted suppliers cannot dictate terms on how their products are used.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

A senior Pentagon official at the time pushed back on the company's concerns, insisting the Defense Department had always operated within the law.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

“Our system and our campuses are trying to work within the law that’s written today,” Evans said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

The Greek government and the coastguard deny these accusations, saying its officers act within the law and have saved hundreds of migrants' lives at sea over the past decade.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

In both judicial and forensic rhetoric, it can be necessary to establish not only whether x did y or x should do y, but whether or not that falls within the law.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

within the law

Example Sentences

Related Words