traitor
Betrayer of country
A traitor is someone who betrays a trust, allegiance, or loyalty—especially one who commits treason against their country.
The word carries strong moral condemnation: Benedict Arnold is America's most famous traitor.
More loosely, traitor describes anyone who abandons a cause or group: His old fans called him a traitor for going mainstream.
One who betrays allegiance
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
- double-crosserOne who deceives confederates
- JudasArchetypal betrayer name
- quislingTreasonous occupation collaborator
renegade · snake · rat · fink · sellout · Benedict Arnold · double-dealer · two-timer
Deliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- seditionInciting revolt against government
conspiracy · subversion · collusion · infidelity · unfaithfulness · backstabbing · deception · duplicity
Covert information gatherer
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- infiltratorOne who enters covertly
- informantOne who provides intelligence
- sleeperOne at rest
asset · counterspy · plant · handler · intelligence · covert · clandestine · surveillance
One who abandons allegiance
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
- fifth columnistInternal enemy undermining group
- seditionistAgitator against state authority
insurrectionist · rebel · subversive · conspirator · saboteur · insurgent · mutineer · secessionist
American defector to Britain
- BrutusRoman who killed Caesar
- Judas IscariotDisciple who betrayed Christ
- Tokyo RoseAllied-aimed Japanese propaganda broadcaster
turncoat
One who betrays allegiance
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
- double-crosserOne who deceives confederates
- JudasArchetypal betrayer name
quisling · renegade · snake · rat · fink · sellout · Benedict Arnold · double-dealer · two-timer · serpent
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
sedition · conspiracy · subversion · collusion · infidelity · unfaithfulness · backstabbing · deception · duplicity · breach of trust
spy
Covert information gatherer
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- infiltratorOne who enters covertly
- informantOne who provides intelligence
sleeper · asset · counterspy · plant · handler · intelligence · covert · clandestine · surveillance · dead-drop
defector
One who abandons allegiance
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
- fifth columnistInternal enemy undermining group
seditionist · insurrectionist · rebel · subversive · conspirator · saboteur · insurgent · mutineer · secessionist · revolutionary
Benedict Arnold
American defector to Britain
- BrutusRoman who killed Caesar
- Judas IscariotDisciple who betrayed Christ
- Tokyo RoseAllied-aimed Japanese propaganda broadcaster
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- Spy Fictionspy, secret agent, double agent, MI6, CIA
- betrayalbackstab, backstabber, double-cross, treachery, disloyalty
- deceiversliar, liars, deceiver, fraud, fake
- spy thrillerspies, espionage, double agents, covert ops, undercover
- Traitorsturncoat, Judas, Benedict Arnold, defector, double agent
traitorpatriot
Devoted country supporter
loyalist · nationalist · defender · stalwart · partisan
traitorloyalist
Faithful supporter of authority
faithful friend · faithful servant · stalwart · true believer · true friend