sworn brother
Oath-bound male sibling
Sworn brothers are men bound by a formal oath of brotherhood, pledging loyalty and mutual support as if they were blood relatives.
The relationship appears in historical and literary contexts—warriors swearing oaths of allegiance, or friends formalizing their bond through ritual: They became sworn brothers after the battle.
The practice carries weight in certain cultures, particularly in Chinese tradition where sworn brotherhood involves ceremony and lifelong obligation.
- blood oathVow sealed by bloodshed
- oathFormal binding promise
- oath of loyaltySworn promise of faithfulness
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
- bondBinding tie or connection
comrade · pledge · allegiance · vow · kinship · warrior · trust · honor · pact · devotion · fealty · companion · battle · shield · sword · ritual · binding · faithful
- spiritual kinshipgodparent, godfather, godmother, godchild, godson
- oath-boundjuror, witness
- wuxiamartial artist, swordsman, kung fu, martial arts, qi
- kinshipmother, father, sister, children, parent
- chosen familychosen family, found family, framily, kindred spirits, adopted family
sworn brothersworn enemy
Vowed lifelong adversary
mortal enemy · archenemy · nemesis · arch-nemesis · enemy
sworn brothertraitor
One who betrays allegiance
betrayer · Judas · backstabber · turncoat · oath-breaker
sworn, brother, swears, swearing, swearer, brothers, brotherly, brotherhood, brethren