Synonyms of traitorous

traitorous

adjective

ˈtrā-tə-rəs 

as in false

not true in one's allegiance to someone or something

when our coach took a job at a rival college, a few traitorous players went right along with him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• false
• treacherous
• unreliable
• disloyal
• perfidious
• faithless
• unfaithful
• untrue
• inconstant
• fickle
• recreant
• untrustworthy
• irresponsible
• hesitant
• uncertain
• undependable
• dubious
• faltering
• irresolute
• uninterested
• apathetic
• dispassionate
• wavering
• trustless
• vacillating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loyal
• true
• constant
• faithful
• staunch
• steadfast
• responsible
• devout
• steady
• solid
• dedicated
• dutiful
• devoted
• fast
• reliable
• trustworthy
• dependable
• trusty
• down-the-line
• stanch
• resolute
• tried
• unfaltering
• intent
• unhesitating
• determined
• inveterate
• confirmed
• tried-and-true
• enthusiastic
• ardent
• passionate
• fervent
• unwavering
• trustable
• impassioned
• sworn
• fervid
• avid
• dyed-in-the-wool

Synonym Chooser

How is the word traitorous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of traitorous are disloyal, faithless, false, perfidious, and treacherous. While all these words mean "untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance," traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

Where would disloyal be a reasonable alternative to traitorous?

The words disloyal and traitorous can be used in similar contexts, but disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

When could faithless be used to replace traitorous?

The words faithless and traitorous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

When is it sensible to use false instead of traitorous?

While in some cases nearly identical to traitorous, 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, in the sense of traitorous?

Perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability.

a perfidious double-crosser

In what contexts can treacherous take the place of traitorous?

Although the words treacherous and traitorous have much in common, treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of traitorous

The blame for this terrifying scenario, McCarthy declared, rested with traitorous federal employees, who had sold their country out and had to be purged from its service. —Made By History, TIME, 9 Feb. 2025

Guinevere, usually relegated to the thankless role of traitorous wife, acts here as Arthur’s beloved confidante. —Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post, 16 July 2024

And somewhere between them on the war/peace continuum sit the men on Rhaenyra’s borderline traitorous council. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 30 June 2024

Simultaneously, Hal is on a call with President Rayburn to brief him on Penn's traitorous schemes. —Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024