DISLOYAL Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of disloyal are faithless , false , perfidious , traitorous , and treacherous . While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country. // disloyal to their country

Q: Where would 'faithless' be a reasonable alternative to 'disloyal'?

The words faithless and disloyal can be used in similar contexts, but faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty. // faithless allies

Q: When would 'false' be a good substitute for 'disloyal'?

Although the words false and disloyal have much in common, false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery. // betrayed by false friends

Q: How are the words 'perfidious' and 'faithless' related as synonyms of 'disloyal'?

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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'traitorous' instead of 'disloyal'?

In some situations, the words traitorous and disloyal are roughly equivalent. However, traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust. // traitorous acts punishable by death

Q: When might 'treacherous' be a better fit than 'disloyal'?

The words treacherous and disloyal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence. // a treacherous adviser

disloyal

adjective

(ˌ)dis-ˈlȯi(-ə)l

Definition of disloyal next

as in traitorous

not true in one's allegiance to someone or something we sensed that he was disloyal and would eventually turn on us

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

Some common synonyms of disloyal are faithless, false, perfidious, traitorous, and treacherous. While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

Where would faithless be a reasonable alternative to disloyal?

The words faithless and disloyal can be used in similar contexts, but faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

When would false be a good substitute for disloyal?

Although the words false and disloyal have much in common, false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.

betrayed by false friends

How are the words perfidious and faithless related as synonyms of disloyal?

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

a perfidious double-crosser

When is it sensible to use traitorous instead of disloyal?

In some situations, the words traitorous and disloyal are roughly equivalent. However, traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

When might treacherous be a better fit than disloyal?

The words treacherous and disloyal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

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 disloyal The group includes both individuals accused of being disloyal and their dependents. —

Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026 Pride turns into protection, and questioning feels disloyal. —

Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2026 Middleton says Roy is disloyal to Trump, while Roy has attacked Middleton’s experience and campaign spending. —

Philip Jankowski austin Bureau, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026 Chinese President Xi Jinping warned the military against shielding corrupt or disloyal officials, while urging the continuation of a crackdown that has become the country’s biggest military purge in roughly half a century. —

Josh Xiao, Bloomberg, 7 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disloyal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disloyal

Adjective

And at the very center of Hell is Satan himself, the traitorous Archangel Lucifer, depicted as a monstrous creature with wings and three heads.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 May 2026
Russell fabricates a lie with the rest of the villains, and the heroes believe it, despite a warning from one traitorous tribemate.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025

Definition of traitorous

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dislodging

disloyal

disloyalties

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“Disloyal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disloyal. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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Synonyms of disloyal

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