TRAITOROUS Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of traitorous are disloyal , faithless , false , perfidious , and treacherous . While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust. // traitorous acts punishable by death

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

The words disloyal and traitorous can be used in similar contexts, but 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 'traitorous'?

The words faithless and traitorous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty. // faithless allies

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

While in some cases nearly identical to traitorous , 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 'traitorous'?

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

Q: In what contexts can 'treacherous' take the place of 'traitorous'?

Although the words treacherous and traitorous have much in common, treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence. // a treacherous adviser

traitorous

adjective

ˈtrā-tə-rəs

Definition of traitorous next

as in false

not true in one's allegiance to someone or something when our coach took a job at a rival college, a few traitorous players went right along with him

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

Some common synonyms of traitorous are disloyal, faithless, false, perfidious, and treacherous. While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

Where would disloyal be a reasonable alternative to traitorous?

The words disloyal and traitorous can be used in similar contexts, but 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 traitorous?

The words faithless and traitorous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

When is it sensible to use false instead of traitorous?

While in some cases nearly identical to traitorous, 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 traitorous?

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

a perfidious double-crosser

In what contexts can treacherous take the place of traitorous?

Although the words treacherous and traitorous have much in common, 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 traitorous Clarisse looks intimidating climbing out of a boat, as does Bushnell’s traitorous Luke, who wields a sharp-looking knife. —

Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 24 July 2025 There's a delicious whodunit aspect to it, too, as the list of five potentially traitorous suspects includes the operative's own high-profile wife (Cate Blanchett). —

Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 July 2025 Smith made out their former collaborators to be ungrateful and traitorous, and the kids weren't given the space to question her command. —

Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025 The regime’s propaganda inspires fear of dire threats from predatory Japanese and perfidious Americans, who are aided by traitorous South Koreans. —

Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2010 See All Example Sentences for traitorous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for traitorous

Adjective

Five of the cases involved hospice care facilities in several cities across Los Angeles County that submitted false claims to Medicare for patients who were not terminally ill and were not eligible for services, prosecutors said.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
This means that precious time was likely lost at the beginning as police investigated a lead that was based on false assumptions.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Apr. 2026

Definition of false

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“Traitorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traitorous. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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Synonyms of traitorous

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