as in treachery
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another
reading a friend's diary without permission would have to be regarded as the ultimate act of personal treason
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Recent Examples of treason
The former president has since been indicted for masterminding an insurrection, abusing power and attempting treason.
—
NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
The maximum penalty for treason against the king at that time was to be hung by the neck until the edge of death, then disemboweled and torn into four pieces — while still alive.
—William Doyle, Boston Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
Unbowed in court The Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee’s leaders were charged with bourgeois nationalism, treason and espionage.
—Wendy Z. Goldman, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski on Tuesday blasted the accusations of treason and sedition facing Democratic Senator Mark Kelly.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treason
NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
The maximum penalty for treason against the king at that time was to be hung by the neck until the edge of death, then disemboweled and torn into four pieces — while still alive.
—William Doyle, Boston Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
Unbowed in court The Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee’s leaders were charged with bourgeois nationalism, treason and espionage.
—Wendy Z. Goldman, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski on Tuesday blasted the accusations of treason and sedition facing Democratic Senator Mark Kelly.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treason
Recent Examples of Synonyms for treason
Noun
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With season 4 rapidly approaching, now's the time to prepare for the treachery to come.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Dec. 2025
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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
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And in the scenario, guilt acts the emergency brake system and keeps you loyal to an outdated self story by framing change as betrayal.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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The story is set in the mid-2000s and centers on betrayal, both personal and political, culminating in a plot to assassinate late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il – father of current leader Kim Jong Un – by blowing up his train.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Treason.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/treason. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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