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
• responsible
• steadfast
• devout
• steady
• solid
• dedicated
• dutiful
• devoted
• fast
• reliable
• trustworthy
• dependable
• trusty
• down-the-line
• resolute
• tried
• unfaltering
• unhesitating
• intent
• 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

Clarisse looks intimidating climbing out of a boat, as does Bushnell’s traitorous Luke, who wields a sharp-looking knife. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 24 July 2025

There's a delicious whodunit aspect to it, too, as the list of five potentially traitorous suspects includes the operative's own high-profile wife (Cate Blanchett). —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 July 2025

Smith made out their former collaborators to be ungrateful and traitorous, and the kids weren't given the space to question her command. —Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Foreign military interventions can change victims from being viewed as a nuisance into being seen as powerful and traitorous enemies, potentially capable of exacting revenge, seizing power, or breaking away from the state. —Benjamin A. Valentino, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2011