treachery

noun

treach·​ery ˈtre-chə-rē 

ˈtrech-rē

plural treacheries

1

: violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence : treason

2

: an act of perfidy or treason

Synonyms

• backstabbing
• betrayal
• business
• disloyalty
• double cross
• faithlessness
• falseness
• falsity
• infidelity
• perfidy
• sellout
• treason
• two-timing
• unfaithfulness

Examples of treachery in a Sentence

a tale of treachery and revenge

was furious that she revealed his secret and never forgave her for the treachery

Recent Examples on the Web

So this is either a touching story of maternal devotion, or a horrific tale of insecticidal treachery, depending on your perspective, and on whether it's told in a horror film or Disney isn't nature wonderful circle of life kind of thing. —Bob Hirshon, Discover Magazine, 2 July 2024

Lanthimos ridicules mankind’s treachery in films that, scene by scene, are not provocative, just crass. —Armond White, National Review, 21 June 2024

Currently in production on Season 3 in Cumming’s native Scotland, The Traitors, whose cast mixes reality stars and celebrities from other areas, is a psychological murder mystery game ruled by treachery and deceit. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 June 2024

Totally unbelievable as this once would have been, that demonic treachery was clearly led by America’s fiercest mis-leader, Donald Trump, who offers no public policies other than the traumatizing negativities of grift, greed, distortion, hate, destruction, ignorance and regressive oppression. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English trecherie, from Anglo-French, from trecher, tricher to deceive, from Vulgar Latin *triccare — more at trick entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

treachery

noun

treach·​ery ˈtrech-(ə-)rē 

plural treacheries

1

: violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence : treason

2

: an act of treason