treachery
Stab from behind
Treachery is betrayal of trust, especially through deception or disloyalty.
The word implies someone close—an ally, friend, or subordinate—turning against you while pretending otherwise: The king's downfall came through treachery, not battle.
Treachery differs from mere betrayal in suggesting cunning and concealment.
The adjective is treacherous, which also describes dangerous conditions: treacherous roads.
Deliberate breach of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- defectionAbandoning one's loyalty
sellout · unfaithfulness · apostasy · falseness · breach · reneging · ratting · double-dealing
Archetypal betrayer name
- BrutusRoman who killed Caesar
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
- viperFanged toxic serpent
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
spy · informer · mole · betrayer · deceiver · snake · Iago · Delilah
Inciting revolt against government
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- subversionUndermining established authority
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
mutiny · rebellion · conspiracy · collaborator · quisling · turncoat · defector · seditionist
Deliberate misleading of others
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
manipulation · scheming · artifice · chicanery · dissembling · fraud · underhanded · misleading
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- cabalScheming political faction
collusion · maneuver · stratagem · cloak-and-dagger · covert · clandestine · infiltration · undercover
Weakening by covert means
- wreckingDestroying completely
- subversionUndermining established authority
- disruptionForceful interruption of process
- destructionAct of completely ruining
damage · disabling · impairment · obstruction · derailment · tampering · interference · hobbling
perfidy
Deliberate breach of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
defection · sellout · unfaithfulness · apostasy · falseness · breach · reneging · ratting · double-dealing · backstabbing
Judas
Archetypal betrayer name
backstabber · spy · informer · mole · betrayer · deceiver · snake · Iago · Delilah · quisling
sedition
Inciting revolt against government
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- subversionUndermining established authority
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
coup · mutiny · rebellion · conspiracy · collaborator · quisling · turncoat · defector · seditionist · regicide
deceit
Deliberate misleading of others
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
cunning · manipulation · scheming · artifice · chicanery · dissembling · fraud · underhanded · misleading · lies
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
cabal · collusion · maneuver · stratagem · cloak-and-dagger · covert · clandestine · infiltration · undercover · ambush
undermining
Weakening by covert means
- wreckingDestroying completely
- subversionUndermining established authority
- disruptionForceful interruption of process
destruction · damage · disabling · impairment · obstruction · derailment · tampering · interference · hobbling · crippling
- Julius CaesarJulius Caesar, Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Marc Antony
- OsirisOsiris, Isis, Set, Horus, dismemberment
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- betrayalbackstab, backstabber, double-cross, disloyalty, backstabbing
- betrayalsbackstabbing, cheating, disloyalty, double-crossing, infidelity
treacheryloyalty
Faithful commitment to another
faithfulness · fidelity · allegiance · devotion · fealty
treacheryhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
integrity · honor · uprightness · rectitude · probity
treacheryprotection
Guarding against harm
safeguarding · defense · shield · guardianship · sheltering