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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perfidy
More recently, an al Qaeda operative and suspected mastermind behind the 2000 USS Cole bombing — in which suicide bombers sidled up alongside a US warship, waved to the sailors and then detonated explosives — was charged with perfidy, among other crimes.
—
Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
The report has raised concerns of perfidy, an act of deception by military forces.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
The report has raised concerns of perfidy, an act of deception by military forces.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfidy
Noun
-
Allegations of infidelity have followed Attorney General Ken Paxton while on the campaign trail.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
Ruth Wilson played Alison Bailey for four seasons on The Affair, Showtime's steamy drama about marital infidelity and its surprisingly deadly consequences for two couples.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Upon learning of Ava’s treachery, Deborah HOWLS.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His wife filed for divorce in 2025 after accusing him of adultery.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
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That same day, the then-Prince Charles had confessed his adultery on television.—
Diego Parrado,
Vanity Fair,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
When his former lover returns under the pretense of old affection and his wife edges toward betrayal, Owen resolves to write, direct, and star in a new production of his own.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 May 2026
-
Paz and Renee open the cages and free the creatures, thanks to the betrayal of security chief Hank (Eric Edelstein).—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Doubt starts to feel like disloyalty.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Discontent with congressional inaction also became an issue in Massie’s primary, as what was long celebrated as independence and principle was instead framed as disloyalty, grandstanding, and mindless obstructionism.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Avital was generating support for her husband, who had been arrested a year before and charged with treason, and other Soviet dissidents.—
Michael Arkush,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
-
Over the past year, a group of lawyers recorded 486 state treason and espionage cases brought against Russian scientists, bureaucrats, military figures, and other government employees.—
Anna Nemtsova,
Time,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perfidy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfidy. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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