1
as in infidelity
lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife
his wife's perfidy was a moment of uncharacteristic weakness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in treachery
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another
the full cost—both in compromised intelligence and in human life—of the double agent's perfidy is not yet known
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 perfidy
More recently, an al Qaeda operative and suspected mastermind behind the 2000 USS Cole bombing — in which suicide bombers sidled up alongside a US warship, waved to the sailors and then detonated explosives — was charged with perfidy, among other crimes.
—
Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
The report has raised concerns of perfidy, an act of deception by military forces.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Ever since, the president and his closest allies haven’t stopped trying to repackage the perfidy as patriotism.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025
The ignorance, the hubris, the lies, the perfidy.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
The report has raised concerns of perfidy, an act of deception by military forces.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Ever since, the president and his closest allies haven’t stopped trying to repackage the perfidy as patriotism.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025
The ignorance, the hubris, the lies, the perfidy.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfidy
Noun
-
During her weekslong trial, friends of Richinses described how the couple had moments of material strife and struggled with infidelity.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
13 May 2026
-
Three years after leaving, Fulmer broke his silence on the infidelity scandal that torpedoed his career in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Upon learning of Ava’s treachery, Deborah HOWLS.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Bible teaches that lying, stealing, adultery and coveting your neighbor’s property are sins.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The facile novelty of adultery is its own mask, a sexy way of dressing up a deep, frightened longing for security.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But somewhere along the way, a portion of the WNBA ecosystem — fans, players and even some media members — started treating criticism as betrayal.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
The sequel series is based on similar – and familiar – concepts of love, loyalty and betrayal, once again set in the mafia underworld.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The two have spent months attacking each other in television ads and debates, accusing one another of fraud, dishonesty, and ideological disloyalty to the MAGA movement.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
18 May 2026
-
Of the six House members expelled, the first three fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War and were expelled for disloyalty.—
Kevin Freking,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tried and convicted for misprision of treason, she was locked away in her bedroom in the palace for eight months.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
-
Even so, the rumors of treason ground on.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perfidy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfidy. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
