traitorous

adjective

ˈtrā-tə-rəs How to pronounce traitorous (audio)
Definition of traitorousnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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
  1. false
  2. treacherous
  3. unreliable
  4. disloyal
  5. perfidious
  6. faithless
  7. unfaithful
  8. untrue
Adjective
  • Authorities did not provide additional details about the agents' apparently false statements.
    — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Nevertheless, Worden continued to promote the false claim to news outlets and hired a media consultant to amplify it, the documents said.
    — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of false
Adjective
  • Moltzan’s run was especially impressive given the treacherous nature of the slalom course on Tuesday, as eight of the 26 racers either did not finish or were disqualified.
    — Molly Hunter, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Farley saw firsthand how a Bronco helped a Utah search and rescue team navigate treacherous terrain during real rescue missions, Cope said.
    — Jamie L. LaReau, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of treacherous
Adjective
  • The generator is designed as an auxiliary or primary power source for satellites operating where solar energy is unreliable or insufficient.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Snow and cold conditions have become increasingly unreliable.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of unreliable
Adjective
  • To make these observations is not disloyal or unpatriotic.
    — DP Opinion, Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Marcano Tábata did not fall because he was seen as disloyal.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Definition of disloyal
Adjective
  • Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds and are bereft of human decency.
    — A.O. Scott, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
  • However, this question has now been resurrected and amplified by conservatives as evidence of a perfidious lack of patriotism.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 2 Feb. 2026
Definition of perfidious
Adjective
  • Consumed by rage and betrayal, Eleanor is driven to take a bloody, supernatural revenge upon her faithless husband.
    — Robert Lang, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
  • Spouses, in this gritty Philadelphia suburb, are mostly faithless, absent or dead.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Definition of faithless
Adjective
  • There had also been suspicions Toth had been unfaithful to the mother-in-law.
    — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Struggling to retain custody of her three-year-old son after leaving her unfaithful husband, Naru is convinced that no good men exist in her country — until a career opportunity offered by Qodrat, the station’s most influential journalist, forces her to reconsider.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Jan. 2026
Definition of unfaithful
Adjective
  • The image and the rhetoric are not only unfair but untrue, said Marlene.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
  • There is a really harmful and untrue stereotype that bisexual men are actually just gay men.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026
Definition of untrue

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Cite this Entry

“Traitorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/traitorous. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of traitorous for Spanish Speakers

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