fifth columnists
Enemies within ranks
Fifth columnists are people who secretly work to undermine a group or nation from within while appearing loyal.
The term originated during the Spanish Civil War, when a general claimed four columns of troops were attacking Madrid while a "fifth column" of supporters worked inside the city.
McCarthy accused the State Department of harboring fifth columnists.
The phrase implies hidden enemies and organized betrayal.
- spiesSecret intelligence gatherers
- secret agentsClandestine government operatives
- molesBurrowing insectivore mammals
- deep coverProlonged covert infiltration
- subversiveSeeking to undermine authority
treachery · sleeper cells · infiltration · traitor · inside job · clandestine networks · cloak and dagger · disloyalty · double agents · hidden agenda · code · saboteur · false flag · quislings · spy · collaborator · propagandists · agent
fifth columnistsloyalists
Faithful to established authority
patriots · defenders · true believers · stalwarts · partisans
fifth columnistsconventional forces
Traditional armed units
regular army · belligerents · enemy combatants · opposing forces
fifth, column, columnist, columnists, columns, columnar, fiftieth