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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The source also claimed that there were multiple instances of infidelity.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
8 July 2025
-
Researchers set out to explore why public reactions to celebrity infidelity vary so widely.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
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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
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But amid the bloodbaths and treacheries, Westeros still penciled in time for a little romance — some more compelling than others (Jon and Ygritte > Jon and Daenerys).—
Tyler Aquilina,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The public sees divorce and adultery in different moral terms, largely viewing divorce as morally acceptable in every Gallup question since the organization began asking about it in 2001.—
Karlyn Bowman,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Angela accused her husband of adultery, according to court filings obtained by The Texas Tribune.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
Noun
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This decision is a travesty, a betrayal of the many farmers and rural Americans who voted for Trump.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
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Cygnet Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical about love, betrayal and changing times in the early 1900s Oklahoma Territory.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 July 2025
Noun
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But those in power refuted these links and instead emphasized the disloyalty and illegitimacy of disobeying the will of the majority.—
Time,
Time,
2 July 2025
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Trump, the most unrelenting figure in American politics, doesn't forgive disloyalty.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Given the current political climate globally, Heads of State offers a humorous and outlandish perspective on poignant themes like foreign relations, government security breaches, and treason.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Essence,
3 July 2025
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Denaturalization is rare but possible in cases of treason or crimes.—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perfidy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfidy. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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