TREACHEROUS Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'treacherous' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of treacherous are disloyal , faithless , false , perfidious , and traitorous . While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence. // a treacherous adviser

Q: When can 'disloyal' be used instead of 'treacherous'?

Although the words disloyal and treacherous have much in common, disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country. // disloyal to their country

Q: When could 'faithless' be used to replace 'treacherous'?

While in some cases nearly identical to treacherous , faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty. // faithless allies

Q: Where would 'false' be a reasonable alternative to 'treacherous'?

The words false and treacherous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery. // betrayed by false friends

Q: How do 'perfidious' and 'faithless' relate to one another, in the sense of 'treacherous'?

Perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability. // a perfidious double-crosser

Q: When is 'traitorous' a more appropriate choice than 'treacherous'?

The synonyms traitorous and treacherous are sometimes interchangeable, but traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust. // traitorous acts punishable by death

treacherous

adjective

ˈtre-chə-rəs

Definition of treacherous next

as in traitorous

not true in one's allegiance to someone or something a treacherous "friend," she's been known to turn against people in the blink of an eye

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How is the word treacherous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of treacherous are disloyal, faithless, false, perfidious, and traitorous. While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

When can disloyal be used instead of treacherous?

Although the words disloyal and treacherous have much in common, disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

When could faithless be used to replace treacherous?

While in some cases nearly identical to treacherous, faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

Where would false be a reasonable alternative to treacherous?

The words false and treacherous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.

betrayed by false friends

How do perfidious and faithless relate to one another, in the sense of treacherous?

Perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability.

a perfidious double-crosser

When is traitorous a more appropriate choice than treacherous?

The synonyms traitorous and treacherous are sometimes interchangeable, but traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of treacherous The organization began collecting donations on Friday after treacherous wildfires had already scorched large parts of Southern California. —

Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025 Travel stalled as multiple states warned motorists not to chance the treacherous snow and ice. —

Melina Walling, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2025 Houses on both sides are engulfed making passage for first responders treacherous. —

Matt Gutman, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2025 Moreover, the treacherous weather conditions also hampered efforts to fight the fires, as air crews were unable to operate due to strong gusts. —

Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for treacherous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for treacherous

Adjective

Guinevere, usually relegated to the thankless role of traitorous wife, acts here as Arthur’s beloved confidante.

— Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post, 16 July 2024
And somewhere between them on the war/peace continuum sit the men on Rhaenyra’s borderline traitorous council.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 30 June 2024