treacherous

adjective

treach·​er·​ous ˈtre-chə-rəs How to pronounce treacherous (audio)
ˈtrech-rəs
1
a
: likely to betray trust : unreliable
a treacherous memory
b
: providing insecure footing or support
treacherous quicksand
c
: marked by hidden dangers, hazards, or perils
2
: characterized by or manifesting treachery : perfidious
treacherously adverb
treacherousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for treacherous

faithless, false, disloyal, traitorous, treacherous, perfidious mean untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance.

faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.

betrayed by false friends

disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

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

a perfidious double-crosser

Examples of treacherous in a Sentence

a treacherous act of betrayal They were not prepared to hike over such treacherous terrain. The snow made their hike all the more treacherous. Discussions about money can lead couples into treacherous territory.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Being a woman on this show has always been more treacherous than Miss Patricia’s one loop around the block in her Rolls-Royce. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2025 Snowfall is expected to accumulate between 6 and 12 inches in eastern parts of the state, with Omaha and Lincoln experiencing treacherous conditions. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025 Again, be cautious, as some roads in Tinos can be treacherous. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2025 During combat and rescue operations, pilots often must navigate treacherous conditions under intense pressure; training flights designed to prepare them for those missions carry their own hazards, and some experts warn the risks have been growing in recent years. Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for treacherous 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of treacherous was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near treacherous

Cite this Entry

“Treacherous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treacherous. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

treacherous

adjective
treach·​er·​ous ˈtrech-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce treacherous (audio)
1
a
: guilty of treachery
b
: likely to betray : unreliable
a treacherous memory
2
: giving a false appearance of safety or solidity
a treacherous stretch of bog
treacherously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on treacherous

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