impunity
Freedom from penalty
Impunity is exemption from punishment or negative consequences.
The word appears almost exclusively in the phrase with impunity, meaning without risk of penalty: The regime murdered dissidents with impunity.
Someone acting with impunity faces no accountability for actions that would normally invite punishment or retaliation.
Protected from harm
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- indemnityProtection against financial loss
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
exoneration · acquittal · dispensation · protection · clemency · reprieve · waiver · sanctuary
Disorder from absent authority
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- uncheckedNot controlled or limited
- unaccountableNot required to justify
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
unrestrained · unregulated · disorder · noncompliance · vigilantism · extrajudicial · above the law · untouchable
Brazen, reckless daring
- brazennessShameless, defiant boldness
- shamelessnessAbsence of moral embarrassment
- blatancyShameless conspicuousness
- temerityReckless audacity
effrontery · gall · nerve · chutzpah · defiance · arrogance · flagrancy · openness
Obligation for one's actions
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- justiceFair treatment under law
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
repercussion · liability · judgment · sentence · redress · recourse · condemnation · reckoning
immunity
Protected from harm
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- indemnityProtection against financial loss
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
pardon · exoneration · acquittal · dispensation · protection · clemency · reprieve · waiver · sanctuary · nonprosecution
anarchy
Disorder from absent authority
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- uncheckedNot controlled or limited
- unaccountableNot required to justify
rogue · unrestrained · unregulated · disorder · noncompliance · vigilantism · extrajudicial · above the law · untouchable · power abuse
audacity
Brazen, reckless daring
- brazennessShameless, defiant boldness
- shamelessnessAbsence of moral embarrassment
- blatancyShameless conspicuousness
temerity · effrontery · gall · nerve · chutzpah · defiance · arrogance · flagrancy · openness · unabashedness
accountability
Obligation for one's actions
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- justiceFair treatment under law
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
sanction · repercussion · liability · judgment · sentence · redress · recourse · condemnation · reckoning · comeuppance
- international lawinternational law, treaty, treaties, conventions, protocols
- political dysfunctionmisrule, tyranny, authoritarianism, dictatorship, despotism
- regional crisespoverty, inequality, violence, crime, corruption
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- human rightshuman dignity, civil liberties, right to liberty, right to life, fundamental rights
- clemencypardon, amnesty, clemency, reprieve, commutation
impunityaccountability
Obligation for one's actions
punishment · liability · justice · retribution · consequences
impunityvulnerability
Openness to harm
exposure · susceptibility · susceptibleness · openness · defenselessness
punish, punishment, punished, punishing, punitive, punishes, punishable, unpunished, punisher