traitorous
adjective
Synonyms
- disloyal
- faithless
- false
- fickle
- inconstant
- perfidious
- recreant
- treacherous
- unfaithful
- untrue
Example Sentences
Matthew Woodruff, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2022 One supposedly traitorous soldier — also Black — is ordered to be executed by his nervous, boyish, anachronistically mohawked mate Ze (João Arrais), who glumly resists the praise then lavished on him by superiors. Guy Lodge, Variety, 9 Aug. 2022 That language clashed markedly with hard-line rhetoric emanating from Moscow, where supporters of the war, who do not consider Ukraine to be a legitimate country, denounced Mr. Medinsky’s diplomacy as bordering on traitorous. New York Times, 30 Mar. 2022 This was a sharp departure from a tradition under which those who reported crimes by fellow Haredim were viewed as traitorous informers. Joseph Berger, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2022 As the fighting in the east has raged, their sermons are often seen as overly forgiving of Moscow’s ambitions in Ukraine, or even traitorous. Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2022 Announcers—conditioned to steer fans to feel a certain way about characters on the show—gently suggested his selfish or traitorous tendencies to deaf ears. Martin Douglas, SPIN, 21 Jan. 2022 In order to make up for her traitorous past, Rosalind works as a spy for her country. Sam Gillette, PEOPLE.com, 20 Jan. 2022 However, that turnabout is nothing compared with McCarthy’s head-snapping response to the violent and traitorous events of Jan. 6. Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
traitorous
adjective
traitorous
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- disloyal
- treacherous
- perfidious
- false
- unreliable
- faithless
- unfaithful
- recreant
- inconstant
- untrue
- fickle
- untrustworthy
- irresponsible
- hesitant
- uncertain
- faltering
- wavering
- vacillating
- undependable
- dubious
- irresolute
- apathetic
- uninterested
- dispassionate
- trustless
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loyal
- true
- constant
- faithful
- staunch
- steadfast
- devout
- responsible
- dutiful
- solid
- steady
- dedicated
- devoted
- trusty
- fast
- trustworthy
- reliable
- dependable
- stanch
- unfaltering
- resolute
- intent
- unhesitating
- inveterate
- tried
- determined
- down-the-line
- ardent
- enthusiastic
- unwavering
- fervent
- confirmed
- passionate
- trustable
- tried-and-true
- impassioned
- fervid
- sworn
- avid
- dyed-in-the-wool
Synonym Chooser
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.
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.
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.
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.
Perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability.
Although the words treacherous and traitorous have much in common, treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.