treason
Crime against country
Treason is the crime of betraying one's country, typically by waging war against it or aiding its enemies.
In the United States, the Constitution defines treason narrowly—levying war or giving aid and comfort to enemies—making it difficult to prosecute.
More loosely, treason describes any serious betrayal of trust: Rooting for the Yankees felt like treason to his Boston family.
Inciting revolt against government
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- mutinyRevolt against authority
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
insurgency · subversion · uprising · revolt · lese-majesty · regicide · conspiracy · plot
Deliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
sellout · breach of trust · faithlessness · duplicity · unfaithfulness · infidelity · deceit · falseness
One who betrays allegiance
- defectorOne who abandons allegiance
- quislingTreasonous occupation collaborator
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
- fifth columnistInternal enemy undermining group
Judas · double agent · informant · rat · fink · snitch · renegade · deserter
Legal status extinction
- capital offenseCrime punishable by execution
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- executionCompleting a planned task
hanging · tribunal · conviction · clemency · pardon · amnesty · exile · imprisonment
Secretly observing others
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
counterintelligence · covert operations · codebreaking · intercept · wiretapping · eavesdropping · cyberespionage · reconnaissance
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- psyopsStrategic manipulation of adversaries' thinking
- radicalizationShift toward extreme ideology
- agitatorOne who foments discord
provocateur · demagogue · incitement · leafleting · broadcasting · foreign influence · interference · subversive
sedition
Inciting revolt against government
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- mutinyRevolt against authority
coup · insurgency · subversion · uprising · revolt · lese-majesty · regicide · conspiracy · plot · overthrow
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
double-cross · sellout · breach of trust · faithlessness · duplicity · unfaithfulness · infidelity · deceit · falseness · betrayer
turncoat
One who betrays allegiance
- defectorOne who abandons allegiance
- quislingTreasonous occupation collaborator
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
fifth columnist · Judas · double agent · informant · rat · fink · snitch · renegade · deserter · mole
attainder
Legal status extinction
- capital offenseCrime punishable by execution
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
execution · hanging · tribunal · conviction · clemency · pardon · amnesty · exile · imprisonment · death penalty
spying
Secretly observing others
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
clandestine · counterintelligence · covert operations · codebreaking · intercept · wiretapping · eavesdropping · cyberespionage · reconnaissance · encrypted
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- psyopsStrategic manipulation of adversaries' thinking
- radicalizationShift toward extreme ideology
agitator · provocateur · demagogue · incitement · leafleting · broadcasting · foreign influence · interference · subversive · ideologue
- American RevolutionDeclaration of Independence, Boston Tea Party, Continental Congress, founding fathers, Stamp Act
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- royal courtking, queen, prince, princess, crown
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- ConstitutionBill of Rights, preamble, articles, U.S. Constitution, Article I
- criminal chargesarson, burglary, homicide, kidnapping, robbery
treasonpatriotism
Devotion to one's homeland
loyalty · allegiance · fealty · faithfulness · fidelity
treasonloyalty
Faithful commitment to another
faithfulness · fidelity · steadfastness · allegiance · trustworthiness
- treasonous actsBetrayals of one's nation
- high treasonBetrayal of one's nation
- treason chargesLegal accusations of betraying one's country
- treason trialsProsecutions for betraying one's country