disloyal

adjective

dis·​loy·​al (ˌ)dis-ˈlȯi(-ə)l 

: lacking in loyalty

also : showing an absence of allegiance, devotion, obligation, faith, or support

his disloyal refusal to help his friend

disloyally

(ˌ)dis-ˈlȯi-ə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• faithless
• false
• fickle
• inconstant
• perfidious
• recreant
• traitorous
• treacherous
• unfaithful
• untrue

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

That has made some aides wary of presenting inconvenient facts to the president for fear of being labeled disloyal. —Alex Thompson, Axios, 12 July 2024

Firing disloyal government personnel One of the most concerning expansions of presidential authority would come if Trump found himself in a position to reinstate an executive order titled Schedule F, which is strongly endorsed by Project 2025. —Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 11 July 2024

During the episode, Aydin, 47, accused Cabral of being disloyal to her longtime hairstylists, leading to an argument between the two reality stars. —Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 26 June 2024

Pete may be a disloyal son and a rookie cop, but he’s also got that Gen-Z savvy. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2024

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

Kids Definition

disloyal

adjective

dis·​loy·​al (ˈ)dis-ˈlȯi(-ə)l 

: lacking in loyalty

disloyally

-ˈlȯi-ə-lē 

adverb

disloyalty

-ˈlȯi(-ə)l-tē

noun