Definition of faithlessnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word faithless different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of faithless are disloyal, false, perfidious, traitorous, and treacherous. While all these words 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

When can disloyal be used instead of faithless?

The synonyms disloyal and faithless are sometimes interchangeable, but disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

When could false be used to replace faithless?

In some situations, the words false and faithless are roughly equivalent. However, false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.

betrayed by false friends

How do perfidious and faithless relate to one another?

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

a perfidious double-crosser

When is traitorous a more appropriate choice than faithless?

While the synonyms traitorous and faithless are close in meaning, traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

When might treacherous be a better fit than faithless?

The meanings of treacherous and faithless largely overlap; however, treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of faithless Don Cheadle and Benicio del Toro are both quite good as part of a team that’s tasked with stealing a secret document, setting the stage for a drama involving gangsters, faithless lovers, and white-collar crooks. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025 Once lost, now found, Ms. Brady offered the closing prayer as the smell of meatloaf promised lunch for the faithful and faithless alike. Moriah Ratner, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024 Men are a structuring absence, as they are spoken of as faithless husbands, potential fiancés, feckless sons. John Bleasdale, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024 But, these faithless actors have never changed the outcome of an election. Solcyré Burga, TIME, 28 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for faithless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faithless
Adjective
  • Russell fabricates a lie with the rest of the villains, and the heroes believe it, despite a warning from one traitorous tribemate.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
  • That video drew the ire of President Donald Trump, who deemed it traitorous.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite the growth, a recent poll shows 20% of potential EV buyers are concerned about unreliable charging networks.
    Keith Laing, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The serious water issues in Dixmoor were in the headlines as far back as 2021, as multiple main breaks resulted in boil orders, schools shutting down, and unreliable water pressure.
    Todd Feurer, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The racist imagery is strategically embedded within a larger narrative promoting false election fraud conspiracy theories, designed to dehumanize Black and brown voters as threats to democracy and to justify restricting their participation in elections.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The Iranian shadow fleet consists of tankers and associated companies that operate outside normal commercial channels, often using false identities, ship-to-ship transfers, and deceptive documentation to hide Iranian crude and refined products.
    Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Struggling to retain custody of her three-year-old son after leaving her unfaithful husband, Naru is convinced that no good men exist in her country — until a career opportunity offered by Qodrat, the station’s most influential journalist, forces her to reconsider.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Jan. 2026
  • Noth has not been formally charged or sued in connection with the allegations, and claimed that his only offense was being unfaithful to his wife, Tara Wilson.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Ah, but excitement can be fleeting in the treacherous era of AI, and the cafe’s clever marketing team admitted the Puerto Rican music star hadn’t actually been here.
    Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Neighbors said the intersection where this deadly crash happened is part of a stretch of road that often turns treacherous, and there are safety changes that need to be made to benefit pedestrians and drivers alike.
    Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Faithless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faithless. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on faithless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!