perfidious

adjective

per·fid·i·ous (ˌ)pər-ˈfi-dē-əs How to pronounce perfidious (audio)

: of, relating to, or characterized by perfidy

perfidiously adverb

perfidiousness noun

Did you know?

We wouldn't lie to you about the history of "perfidious" - even though the word itself suggests deceitfulness. The modern English meaning of "perfidious" remains faithful to that of its Latin ancestor, perfidus, which means "faithless." English speakers have used "perfidious" to mean "treacherous" since at least 1572. One of the earliest known uses of the term can be found in Act V, scene iii of Shakespeare’s All's Well That Ends Well: the "perfidious slave" Parolles is thought to be an unreliable witness; he’ll say whatever suits his purpose, whether true or not. In contemporary usage, "perfidious" not only implies treacherousness, but an inability to be reliable or honorable.

Example Sentences

We were betrayed by a perfidious ally. a perfidious campaign worker revealed the senator's strategy to his leading rival for the nomination

Recent Examples on the Web Marsha’s career was derailed by the Blacklist, a perfidious period of American history that has been endlessly chronicled and misunderstood.

Alan K. Rode, Variety, 10 Sep. 2022 On the world stage, Ukraine consistently portrays Russia as a perfidious power that cannot be trusted to honor international agreements — and Moscow’s actions often make that characterization compelling.

Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2022 This latest version, originating in the Kremlin, is just a new, perfidious variant of the old virus called anti-Semitism.

Michael Brenner, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 June 2022 But what’s truly unprecedented about this bill is the range of organizations that its supporters hope to cleanse of perfidious foreign influence.

Casey Michel, The New Republic, 27 June 2022 The real mystery in this perfidious tale is why the FBI decided to advance the dossier hoax to the world, thus weakening America and its presidency.

WSJ, 6 June 2022 Millions of Russians with friends and relatives in Ukraine are heartsick, while others cling to the belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin is doing only what is necessary to protect the motherland against a perfidious West.

Katya Korobtsova, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2022 Countries also find ways to live with them, and they can be used as a rhetorical device—unfair sanctions imposed by a perfidious West—to tighten a ruler’s grip on power.

Tom Mctague, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2022 Thanks to that episode, and to Winston Churchill’s denunciation of the agreement, the names of Munich, Chamberlain, and appeasement have ever since been bywords for perfidious betrayal.

Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 21 Feb. 2022 See More

perfidious

adjective

as in traitorous

not true in one's allegiance to someone or something a perfidious campaign worker revealed the senator's strategy to his leading rival for the nomination

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

traitorous
treacherous
unreliable
false
disloyal
faithless
unfaithful
untrue
inconstant
fickle
recreant
untrustworthy
irresponsible
uncertain
vacillating
undependable
hesitant
dubious
faltering
irresolute
wavering
uninterested
dispassionate
apathetic
trustless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

true
faithful
loyal
constant
steadfast
devout
responsible
staunch
dutiful
reliable
devoted
steady
dedicated
fast
trustworthy
dependable
solid
trusty
stanch
unfaltering
unhesitating
resolute
intent
inveterate
tried
determined
ardent
down-the-line
enthusiastic
fervent
confirmed
passionate
trustable
unwavering
impassioned
fervid
tried-and-true
sworn
avid
dyed-in-the-wool

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of perfidious are disloyal, faithless, false, traitorous, and treacherous. While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability.

a perfidious double-crosser

The words disloyal and perfidious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

The meanings of faithless and perfidious largely overlap; however, faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

The words false and perfidious can be used in similar contexts, but false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.

betrayed by false friends

Although the words traitorous and perfidious have much in common, traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

While in some cases nearly identical to perfidious, treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

单词	perfidious
释义	perfidious adjective per·fid·i·ous (ˌ)pər-ˈfi-dē-əs : of, relating to, or characterized by perfidy perfidiously adverb perfidiousness noun Did you know? We wouldn't lie to you about the history of "perfidious" - even though the word itself suggests deceitfulness. The modern English meaning of "perfidious" remains faithful to that of its Latin ancestor, perfidus, which means "faithless." English speakers have used "perfidious" to mean "treacherous" since at least 1572. One of the earliest known uses of the term can be found in Act V, scene iii of Shakespeare’s All's Well That Ends Well: the "perfidious slave" Parolles is thought to be an unreliable witness; he’ll say whatever suits his purpose, whether true or not. In contemporary usage, "perfidious" not only implies treacherousness, but an inability to be reliable or honorable. Synonyms disloyal faithless false fickle inconstant recreant traitorous treacherous unfaithful untrue See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences We were betrayed by a perfidious ally. a perfidious campaign worker revealed the senator's strategy to his leading rival for the nomination Recent Examples on the Web Marsha’s career was derailed by the Blacklist, a perfidious period of American history that has been endlessly chronicled and misunderstood. Alan K. Rode, Variety, 10 Sep. 2022 On the world stage, Ukraine consistently portrays Russia as a perfidious power that cannot be trusted to honor international agreements — and Moscow’s actions often make that characterization compelling. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2022 This latest version, originating in the Kremlin, is just a new, perfidious variant of the old virus called anti-Semitism. Michael Brenner, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 June 2022 But what’s truly unprecedented about this bill is the range of organizations that its supporters hope to cleanse of perfidious foreign influence. Casey Michel, The New Republic, 27 June 2022 The real mystery in this perfidious tale is why the FBI decided to advance the dossier hoax to the world, thus weakening America and its presidency. WSJ, 6 June 2022 Millions of Russians with friends and relatives in Ukraine are heartsick, while others cling to the belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin is doing only what is necessary to protect the motherland against a perfidious West. Katya Korobtsova, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2022 Countries also find ways to live with them, and they can be used as a rhetorical device—unfair sanctions imposed by a perfidious West—to tighten a ruler’s grip on power. Tom Mctague, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2022 Thanks to that episode, and to Winston Churchill’s denunciation of the agreement, the names of Munich, Chamberlain, and appeasement have ever since been bywords for perfidious betrayal. Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 21 Feb. 2022 See More Word History First Known Use 1572, in the meaning defined above perfidious adjective as in traitorous not true in one's allegiance to someone or something a perfidious campaign worker revealed the senator's strategy to his leading rival for the nomination Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance traitorous treacherous unreliable false disloyal faithless unfaithful untrue inconstant fickle recreant untrustworthy irresponsible uncertain vacillating undependable hesitant dubious faltering irresolute wavering uninterested dispassionate apathetic trustless Antonyms & Near Antonyms true faithful loyal constant steadfast devout responsible staunch dutiful reliable devoted steady dedicated fast trustworthy dependable solid trusty stanch unfaltering unhesitating resolute intent inveterate tried determined ardent down-the-line enthusiastic fervent confirmed passionate trustable unwavering impassioned fervid tried-and-true sworn avid dyed-in-the-wool See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of perfidious are disloyal, faithless, false, traitorous, and treacherous. While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability. a perfidious double-crosser The words disloyal and perfidious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country. disloyal to their country The meanings of faithless and perfidious largely overlap; however, faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty. faithless allies The words false and perfidious can be used in similar contexts, but false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery. betrayed by false friends Although the words traitorous and perfidious have much in common, traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust. traitorous acts punishable by death While in some cases nearly identical to perfidious, treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence. a treacherous adviser
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perfidious

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

adjective

Synonym Chooser