1
as in infidelity
lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife
his wife's perfidy was a moment of uncharacteristic weakness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in treachery
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another
the full cost—both in compromised intelligence and in human life—of the double agent's perfidy is not yet known
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perfidy
But what Neil is accused of is something well beyond cunning or perfidy or faithlessness, well beyond questionable morality.
—
Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2025
Those intrepid few who still clung to the belief that American perfidy shielded Duke’s players from true justice just had the rug pulled out from under them by Mangum herself.
—The Editors, National Review, 17 Dec. 2024
All of these glinty and high-relief performances leave the central figure seeming—despite his own foul perfidies—not exactly innocent, but without control.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
Jane’s fiercely unforgiving tone was adopted by militant Irish nationalists for whom the famine stood as the ultimate proof of English perfidy.
—Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2025
Those intrepid few who still clung to the belief that American perfidy shielded Duke’s players from true justice just had the rug pulled out from under them by Mangum herself.
—The Editors, National Review, 17 Dec. 2024
All of these glinty and high-relief performances leave the central figure seeming—despite his own foul perfidies—not exactly innocent, but without control.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
Jane’s fiercely unforgiving tone was adopted by militant Irish nationalists for whom the famine stood as the ultimate proof of English perfidy.
—Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfidy
Noun
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And when will Conrad find out about Jeremiah's infidelity in Cabo?—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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This episode of It's Been a Minute discusses, with the help of some special guests, why the fear of infidelity haunts American culture and dating lives.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Thus far, this prosecution, and a corresponding case against the gang in Sacramento, have been rife with evidence of treachery and violence inside and outside of prison.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
31 July 2025
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The six-parter, to debut July 14, follows six groups of friends, and six historical cases of murder and treachery among them.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2025
Noun
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In addition, Swazi law has a different definition of adultery for men and for women.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Aug. 2025
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Certain artistic genres were employed to publicize and critique changes to laws regarding adultery and divorce.—
Smithsonian Magazine,
Smithsonian Magazine,
29 July 2025
Noun
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But Trump underestimated the degree to which allies’ closeness to the United States would lead them to register Washington’s new stance as a shocking betrayal.—
Adam S. Posen,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
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Extraction explores the trauma, betrayal, and moral conflicts of characters pushed to the edge.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In March, Justice Barrett joined Justice John Roberts and the liberal justices in blocking President Donald Trump’s effort to freeze $2 billion in U.S. Agency for International Development funds, prompting fierce backlash from Make America Great Again conservatives who saw it as disloyalty.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
28 July 2025
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Leaders can flip this narrative by framing reporting as an act of strength and loyalty, not disloyalty.—
Rhett Power,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Noun
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Ksenia Mironova copes with the absence of her fiancé, also a journalist, who is in prison on charges of treason.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Aug. 2025
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Trump himself had incited the riot, which is also an act of treason.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perfidy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfidy. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
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