high treason
Betraying one's country
High treason is the most serious form of treason, typically involving acts against the sovereign or state such as attempting to kill the monarch, waging war against one's own country, or aiding enemy nations.
The term distinguishes these grave offenses from lesser forms of treason (petty treason) that historically involved betraying a superior, such as a servant killing a master.
He was convicted of high treason and executed.
In modern usage, the distinction has largely faded, with treason alone covering such offenses.
Violent uprising against authority
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- mutinyRevolt against authority
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
overthrow · sedition · revolution · insurgency · civil war · regicide · assassination · armed resistance
One who betrays allegiance
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- defectorOne who abandons allegiance
- quislingTreasonous occupation collaborator
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
fifth columnist · informant · double agent · perfidy · treachery · disloyalty · oath-breaking · sellout
Completing a planned task
- hangingExecution by noose
- beheadingRemoval of head
- drawing and quarteringExecution splitting the body
- attainderLegal status extinction
scaffold · imprisonment · exile · forfeiture · confiscation · trial · tribunal · conviction
Covert information gatherer
- intelligence leakUnauthorized disclosure of secrets
- state secretsProtected government information
- classified informationSensitive, access-restricted material
- molesBurrowing insectivore mammals
infiltration · codebreaking · interception · surveillance · counterintelligence · sleeper cell · covert operations · cyberespionage
Inciting revolt against government
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- destabilizationCausing loss of stability
- underminingWeakening by covert means
sabotage · provocateur · agitator · dissidence · fifth column · subversive · infiltration · incitement
insurrection
Violent uprising against authority
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- mutinyRevolt against authority
coup · overthrow · sedition · revolution · insurgency · civil war · regicide · assassination · armed resistance · guerrilla
traitor
One who betrays allegiance
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- defectorOne who abandons allegiance
- quislingTreasonous occupation collaborator
collaborator · fifth columnist · informant · double agent · perfidy · treachery · disloyalty · oath-breaking · sellout · renegade
execution
Completing a planned task
- hangingExecution by noose
- beheadingRemoval of head
- drawing and quarteringExecution splitting the body
attainder · scaffold · imprisonment · exile · forfeiture · confiscation · trial · tribunal · conviction · gallows
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligence leakUnauthorized disclosure of secrets
- state secretsProtected government information
- classified informationSensitive, access-restricted material
moles · infiltration · codebreaking · interception · surveillance · counterintelligence · sleeper cell · covert operations · cyberespionage · wiretapping
sedition
Inciting revolt against government
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- destabilizationCausing loss of stability
undermining · sabotage · provocateur · agitator · dissidence · fifth column · subversive · infiltration · incitement · radicalization
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- historical crimesheresy, blasphemy, witchcraft, piracy, arson
- political intrigueintrigue, conspiracy, plot, collusion, sedition
- treasonsedition, turncoat, state betrayal, betrayer, defector
- capital crimesfirst-degree murder, premeditated murder, felony murder, aggravated murder, terrorism
high treasonpatriotism
Devotion to one's homeland
loyalty · allegiance · fealty · civic duty · fidelity
high treasonheroism
Exceptional courage under duress
meritorious service · valor · distinguished service · gallantry · honor
high, higher, highest, heighten, treason, heightened, highborn, treasonous, heightening