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 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 Since Biden is no longer in the running, they won't be considered faithless. Kaleigh Rogers, ABC News, 23 July 2024 Nellore admits to being of faithless background yet criticizes people of faith. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for faithless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faithless
Adjective
  • Clarisse looks intimidating climbing out of a boat, as does Bushnell’s traitorous Luke, who wields a sharp-looking knife.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 24 July 2025
  • There's a delicious whodunit aspect to it, too, as the list of five potentially traitorous suspects includes the operative's own high-profile wife (Cate Blanchett).
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, the statement described the pollster as unreliable, citing past inaccuracies.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
  • But the Iranian gas supply is also unreliable — in part because Iran often has trouble keeping its own lights on, due to sanctions and mismanagement, and because Tehran at times withholds its exports to Iraq for political reasons.
    Natasha Turak, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Fleeing from violence and a dark history, a man adopts a false identity looking to start over in the idyllic Canary Islands' town of Arcadia, where a new love interest could change his life — if his past doesn't come back to haunt him.
    Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Rent control supporters continue to resurrect ineffective rent control proposals year after year, offering tenants false hope that will not solve the problem.
    Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Speculation was particularly concentrated on a rumor that Bryan had been unfaithful to Amaya, which gained traction on social media, and while neither Bryan nor Amaya weighed in on it, Bryan's dad made sure to quell the rumors.
    Julia Moore, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Cassie Ventura, the case’s star witness and another former girlfriend of Combs, testified Combs was unfaithful to her by dating Gina throughout their 11-year relationship.
    Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Yet for most of the year, they are completely cut off by snow, flooding, and treacherous weather.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The mountain is known for its dangerous climbing conditions, made even more treacherous because of the frequency of intense storms.
    Sam Gillette, People.com, 14 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Faithless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faithless. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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