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
Ever since, the president and his closest allies haven’t stopped trying to repackage the perfidy as patriotism.
—
Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025
The ignorance, the hubris, the lies, the perfidy.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
All that said, Trump’s willingness to forgive the legal sins of former GOP congressman is a notable footnote to an often wretched history of pardon perfidy engaged in by presidents of both parties.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Yet the Pressler Amendment was hardly an instance of American perfidy, and the F-16 sales thus validated a key Pakistani myth about American behavior.
—C. Christine Fair, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2015
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025
The ignorance, the hubris, the lies, the perfidy.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
All that said, Trump’s willingness to forgive the legal sins of former GOP congressman is a notable footnote to an often wretched history of pardon perfidy engaged in by presidents of both parties.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Yet the Pressler Amendment was hardly an instance of American perfidy, and the F-16 sales thus validated a key Pakistani myth about American behavior.
—C. Christine Fair, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2015
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfidy
Noun
-
All the secrets pour out, the revelations of infidelity and addiction and so on, as the group gives vent to the stuff that’s previously been unsayable—not to fix anything, mind you, since some things can’t be fixed.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
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These liaisons are consensual but fraught by infidelity, disparities in age and power, shifting norms.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Not having to bear that burden, I was transported by Bentley and his co-writer Greg Kwedar to a Pacific Northwest of quiet beauty and matter-of-fact treachery.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
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After Thomas Hickey was hanged that year for mutiny, sedition and treachery, Washington warned that his fate should serve as a caution to all soldiers.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The facile novelty of adultery is its own mask, a sexy way of dressing up a deep, frightened longing for security.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The Texas attorney general beat a 2023 impeachment trial on corruption charges and reached a deal to end a long-running securities fraud case but now faces a contentious divorce over allegations of adultery.—
Meg Kinnard,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The streamer said the drama will show how the couple’s love, betrayals and artistic work were shaped by the political and social atmosphere of the time.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
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While at the convent, Willa learned about her mother's betrayal, and now Bob wants to be fully honest with her.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Research on group dynamics shows that dissent is often interpreted as disloyalty rather than contribution.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
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The courts have warned against treating dissent as disloyalty.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Pavel Dabravolski, a 36-year-old Belarusian journalist for BelaPAN, was sentenced to nine years in a maximum-security prison after being convicted of treason, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
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Current law says only those accused of murder or treason can have bail withheld, but this language expands that possibility to other offenses, such as misdemeanors.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perfidy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfidy. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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