smiling assassin
Charming but deadly
A smiling assassin is someone who appears friendly and charming while working against you—the colleague who compliments your work while undermining you to the boss, the politician who shakes hands warmly while plotting your downfall.
The phrase captures the particular danger of hostility disguised by warmth: She's a smiling assassin—all sweetness in meetings, all knives afterward.
Covert betrayal of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
perfidy · breach of trust · duplicity · two-faced · false friend · Judas kiss · sellout · defection
Crafty and calculating
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
subterfuge · artifice · trickery · stratagem · maneuvering · conniving · machination · wiles
Professional paid murderer
- corporate raiderHostile acquisition specialist
- frenemyHostile person feigning friendship
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
smooth operator · velvet glove · iron fist · killer instinct · cutthroat · underminer · saboteur · honey trap
Pleasantly attractive in manner
- affableWarm and approachable
- genialPleasantly warm-mannered
- amiableGood-natured and likable
- disarmingAllaying suspicion through warmth
winsome · charismatic · suave · cordial · pleasant · gracious · likeable · engaging
Apt to cause harm
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- mercilessShowing no clemency
deadly · predatory · sinister · threatening · vicious · stealthy · covert · veiled threat
backstabbing
Covert betrayal of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
disloyalty · perfidy · breach of trust · duplicity · two-faced · false friend · Judas kiss · sellout · defection · quisling
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
deception · subterfuge · artifice · trickery · stratagem · maneuvering · conniving · machination · wiles · craftiness
hitman
Professional paid murderer
- corporate raiderHostile acquisition specialist
- frenemyHostile person feigning friendship
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
grifter · smooth operator · velvet glove · iron fist · killer instinct · cutthroat · underminer · saboteur · honey trap
charming
Pleasantly attractive in manner
disarming · winsome · charismatic · suave · cordial · pleasant · gracious · likeable · engaging · captivating
dangerous
Apt to cause harm
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
merciless · deadly · predatory · sinister · threatening · vicious · stealthy · covert · veiled threat · hidden danger
smiling assassintrue friend
Genuinely loyal companion
faithful companion · guardian angel · straight shooter · what you see is what you get · Good Samaritan
smiling assassinbrute
Cruel, violent person
thug · rough diamond · bully · blunt instrument · teddy bear
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