disloyal

adjective

dis·​loy·​al (ˌ)dis-ˈlȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce disloyal (audio)
: lacking in loyalty
also : showing an absence of allegiance, devotion, obligation, faith, or support
his disloyal refusal to help his friend
disloyally adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for disloyal

faithless, false, disloyal, traitorous, treacherous, perfidious mean untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance.

faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.

betrayed by false friends

disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

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

a perfidious double-crosser

Examples of disloyal in a Sentence

It would be disloyal to abandon them. we sensed that he was disloyal and would eventually turn on us
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Analysts in Colombia agree that Maduro's internal military personnel are untrained, disloyal, and that many cannot be located. Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025 Those who consider Loeffler disloyal don’t know him. Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025 Picquart reopens the investigation and pushes for a retrial, butting heads with his superiors and with a disloyal, antisemitic subordinate (Grégory Gadebois)—ultimately derailing his military career in the pursuit of justice. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2025 But because everyone was technically disloyal during Casa Amor, there wouldn’t have been much to show. Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for disloyal

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French desleial, desloial, from des- dis- + leal loyal

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disloyal was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disloyal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disloyal. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

disloyal

adjective
dis·​loy·​al (ˈ)dis-ˈlȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce disloyal (audio)
: lacking in loyalty
disloyally adverb
disloyalty
-ˈlȯi(-ə)l-tē
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on disloyal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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