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Dictionary.com

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.

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

But Kaufman said the prosecution had "cherry picked" speeches, ignoring what he said were dozens of examples of Duterte stressing the need to act within the law.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

They said the university wished to "make clear our commitment to supporting her research and to securing and promoting freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law".

From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025

The tribunal did not find grounds for compensation or remedies for the three claimants, as the force had acted within the law and responded appropriately once the error was discovered.

From BBC • Oct. 21, 2025

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