treacherous
adjective
Synonyms
- disloyal
- faithless
- false
- fickle
- inconstant
- perfidious
- recreant
- traitorous
- unfaithful
- untrue
Example Sentences
José Ignacio Castañeda Perez, The Arizona Republic, 26 Aug. 2022 While the Netherlands’ transportation system famously accommodates bicycles, many communities are treacherous for older folks on foot. Robert Weisman, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022 Bernie still walks the chalet waiting for the big blasts, though the slide is a bit more treacherous, as Vassegh demonstrated. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2022 And the party itself is a minefield of potential gaffes, made more treacherous by most yards’ dearth of shelter. Nina Molina, WSJ, 7 July 2022 All of which makes the Fed’s inflation-taming, recession-avoiding act even more treacherous. Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2022 All of which makes the Fed’s inflation-taming, recession-avoiding act even more treacherous. Paul Wiseman, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 June 2022 Threat of Prosecution For women seeking abortions in Poland — and those trying to assist them — the routes have become treacherous. New York Times, 12 June 2022 But the undue optimism from the White House about what is possible with a 50-50 Senate has made a difficult political terrain even more treacherous to navigate. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 2 June 2022 See More Word History
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
treacherous
adjective
John Reynolds Gardiner, Stone Foxtreacherous
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- traitorous
- disloyal
- perfidious
- unreliable
- fickle
- faithless
- false
- unfaithful
- inconstant
- untrustworthy
- recreant
- irresponsible
- untrue
- uncertain
- undependable
- vacillating
- faltering
- hesitant
- irresolute
- wavering
- dubious
- dispassionate
- trustless
- uninterested
- apathetic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loyal
- true
- constant
- steadfast
- faithful
- responsible
- fast
- trustworthy
- staunch
- devout
- steady
- reliable
- solid
- dependable
- dedicated
- trusty
- devoted
- dutiful
- stanch
- resolute
- unfaltering
- determined
- trustable
- tried
- unhesitating
- inveterate
- down-the-line
- passionate
- impassioned
- intent
- unwavering
- enthusiastic
- ardent
- sworn
- fervent
- fervid
- confirmed
- avid
- tried-and-true
- dyed-in-the-wool
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of treacherous are disloyal, faithless, false, perfidious, and traitorous. While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.
Although the words disloyal and treacherous have much in common, disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.
While in some cases nearly identical to treacherous, faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.
The words false and treacherous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.
Perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability.
The synonyms traitorous and treacherous are sometimes interchangeable, but traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.