1
as in infidelity
lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife
his wife's perfidy was a moment of uncharacteristic weakness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in treachery
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another
the full cost—both in compromised intelligence and in human life—of the double agent's perfidy is not yet known
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perfidy
Despite high trade deficits, the U.S. economy is strong
Trump and his advisers point to America’s lopsided trade numbers—year after year of huge deficits—as proof of foreigners’ perfidy.
—
Time, 9 Apr. 2025
Jane’s fiercely unforgiving tone was adopted by militant Irish nationalists for whom the famine stood as the ultimate proof of English perfidy.
—Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
But what Neil is accused of is something well beyond cunning or perfidy or faithlessness, well beyond questionable morality.
—Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2025
Those intrepid few who still clung to the belief that American perfidy shielded Duke’s players from true justice just had the rug pulled out from under them by Mangum herself.
—The Editors, National Review, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Time, 9 Apr. 2025
Jane’s fiercely unforgiving tone was adopted by militant Irish nationalists for whom the famine stood as the ultimate proof of English perfidy.
—Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
But what Neil is accused of is something well beyond cunning or perfidy or faithlessness, well beyond questionable morality.
—Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2025
Those intrepid few who still clung to the belief that American perfidy shielded Duke’s players from true justice just had the rug pulled out from under them by Mangum herself.
—The Editors, National Review, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfidy
Noun
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Allen, 40, accused her ex-husband of infidelity in various capacities on the 14-track album.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The film centers on Smita, a small-town housewife whose seemingly ordinary life unravels into a narrative exploring infidelity, deceit and moral ambiguity.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
With season 4 rapidly approaching, now's the time to prepare for the treachery to come.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Dec. 2025
-
Instead of being killed, Ashur takes Spartacus’ life and is consequently rewarded for his treachery by the Roman Empire.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Bianca filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery in 1978, a year after Mick started seeing model Jerry Hall.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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As China’s economy has grown, so too has its incidence of adultery.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In June 2025, Peacock revealed the latest slate of celebrities set to battle it out in a high-stakes game of lies, alliances and betrayal inside a castle in the Scottish Highlands — all for a chance to win up to $250,000.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Rumors of treason, incompetence and betrayal swirled.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
To quit, meanwhile, would be to open themselves to charges of disloyalty or weakness or both.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
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Even after Trump’s November 2024 win, Duncan still called himself a Republican, despite the Georgia Republican Party expelling him in January for disloyalty.—
Taylor Millard,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Rumors of treason, incompetence and betrayal swirled.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
His Administration has also accused political rivals, including Democratic lawmakers and former President Barack Obama, of sedition and treason.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
10 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perfidy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfidy. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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