treacherous
46 synonyms and 8 antonyms for treacherous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Willing to betray trust; disloyal and deceitful.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use treacherous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French trecheros, "deceitful" — related to "treachery."
Full origin of treacherous →Frequently asked questions
What does “treacherous” mean?
The word “treacherous” means willing to betray trust; disloyal and deceitful. In plain terms, treacherous describes either a person who betrays trust or a situation/place that's secretly dangerous.
How do you pronounce “treacherous”?
“Treacherous” is pronounced TREHT-shuh-ruhs (/ˈtɹɛt͡ʃəɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “treacherous” in a sentence?
Here is “treacherous” used in a sentence: “His treacherous business partner sold the company's secrets to a rival.”
What is another word for “treacherous”?
Words with a similar meaning to “treacherous” include booky, dastardly, disleal, disloyal, double-dealing and double-crossing.
What is the opposite of “treacherous”?
The opposite of “treacherous” — its antonyms — are faithful, fidelitous, leal, loyal and steadfast.
What part of speech is “treacherous”?
“Treacherous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “treacherous” come from?
The word “treacherous” comes from Old French. From Old French trecheros, "deceitful" — related to "treachery.".
Is “treacherous” a common word?
“Treacherous” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.