double-crosser
Treacherous false ally
A double-crosser is someone who betrays a person who trusted them, especially after pretending to be an ally or partner.
The term evokes the image of crossing someone twice—first by gaining their confidence, then by turning against them.
Double-crossers appear frequently in crime stories and espionage narratives, where loyalty is currency and betrayal carries high stakes.
The informant turned out to be a double-crosser working for both sides.
Disloyal pretend ally
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
- JudasArchetypal betrayer name
- informerOne who reveals secrets
snitch · rat · fink · defector · renegade · quisling · sellout · collaborator
Machinator or diagram machine
- conniverOne who schemes secretly
- intriguerOne who schemes secretly
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- manipulatorOne who controls cunningly
strategist · conspirator · operator · Machiavelli · snake in the grass · wheeler-dealer · fox · machinator
Disloyal and dangerous
- perfidiousDeliberately breaking faith
- disloyalUntrue to commitments
- unfaithfulBetraying a partner's trust
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
two-faced · underhanded · sneaky · devious · false-hearted · traitorous · deceitful · untrustworthy
backstabber
Disloyal pretend ally
informer · snitch · rat · fink · defector · renegade · quisling · sellout · collaborator · fifth columnist
plotter
Machinator or diagram machine
- conniverOne who schemes secretly
- intriguerOne who schemes secretly
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
manipulator · strategist · conspirator · operator · Machiavelli · snake in the grass · wheeler-dealer · fox · machinator · wire-puller
treacherous
Disloyal and dangerous
- perfidiousDeliberately breaking faith
- disloyalUntrue to commitments
- unfaithfulBetraying a partner's trust
duplicitous · two-faced · underhanded · sneaky · devious · false-hearted · traitorous · deceitful · untrustworthy · backstabbing
trickster
Cunning deceiver in myth
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
charlatan · impostor · scammer · grifter · cheat · hustler · flimflammer · hoaxer · conman · shark
- cheaterscheat, cheater, con artist, swindler, deceiver
- Traitorstraitor, turncoat, betrayer, Judas, Benedict Arnold
- noir charactersfemme fatale, private eye, gumshoe, hard-boiled detective, dame
- betrayerstraitor, betrayer, backstabber, turncoat, Judas
- blabbermouthsblabbermouth, gossipmonger, rumormonger, scandalmonger, talebearer
- troublemakerstroublemaker, rascals, delinquents, imps, brats
double-crosserloyalist
Faithful supporter of authority
true friend · patriot · faithful servant · true believer · stalwart
double-crosserman of honor
Person of upstanding character
straight shooter · honest broker · team player · mensch · straight arrow
cross, crossing, crosses, crisscross, double-cross, crossover, crosswise, double-crossing, crosser