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 In 2016, a record number of faithless votes were cast. Robert Alexander and Anna Dawley, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025 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 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
  • The court of where-there's-smoke-there's-fire is historically unreliable.
    Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
  • He’s surrounded by unreliable narrators.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
Adjective
  • The question of true or false became a sensation in 1967 with the famous film shot by Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin in the Pacific Northwest, capturing a hairy figure ambling through a Northern California wood.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
  • But with few details to go on, the question is whether this moment marks a genuine breakthrough, or just another false dawn.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • Speculation immediately followed surrounding what caused their beak-up, including that Keoghan was unfaithful.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
  • This story isn't nearly as exciting because an NBA player being unfaithful to his girlfriend sort of just feels like a regular Thursday afternoon.
    Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • This climb is far more treacherous.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
  • Essential safety tips for heavy rain When heavy rain pours, the risk of flooding and treacherous roads rises.
    Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 3 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Faithless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faithless. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

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