turncoat
Betrayer of allegiance
A turncoat is someone who switches allegiance—abandoning a cause, party, or group to join the opposition.
The term carries strong disapproval, implying betrayal rather than principled change of mind: The senator was branded a turncoat after voting with the other party.
Unlike a mere defector, a turncoat often actively works against former allies.
One who betrays allegiance
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- defectorOne who abandons allegiance
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
- double-crosserOne who deceives confederates
quisling · Judas · sellout · informant · collaborator · fink · rat · snitch
One who abandons allegiance
- apostateOne who renounces faith
- rebelAuthority defier
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- hereticChallenger of official doctrine
deserter · mutineer · secessionist · subversive · revolutionary · maverick · nonconformist · insurgent
Deliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- schemingCrafty and calculating
deceitful · dishonest · underhanded · insidious · sly · crafty · manipulative · trickery
Benefiting oneself primarily
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
- chameleonLizard altering its pigmentation
- fair-weatherUnreliable when challenged
- exploiterOne who uses unfairly
wheeler-dealer · climber · operator · survivor · hustler · sycophant · user · maneuverer
traitor
One who betrays allegiance
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- defectorOne who abandons allegiance
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
double-crosser · quisling · Judas · sellout · informant · collaborator · fink · rat · snitch · double-dealer
defector
One who abandons allegiance
heretic · deserter · mutineer · secessionist · subversive · revolutionary · maverick · nonconformist · insurgent · fugitive
duplicity
Deliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
scheming · deceitful · dishonest · underhanded · insidious · sly · crafty · manipulative · trickery · falsehood
self-serving
Benefiting oneself primarily
- mercenarySoldier fighting for pay
- chameleonLizard altering its pigmentation
- fair-weatherUnreliable when challenged
exploiter · wheeler-dealer · climber · operator · survivor · hustler · sycophant · user · maneuverer · speculator
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- Spy Fictionspy, secret agent, double agent, MI6, CIA
- betrayalbackstab, betray, betrayal, traitor, backstabber
- Traitorstraitor, betrayer, Judas, Benedict Arnold, defector
- renegadesrenegade, rebel, traitor, defector, deserter
- Spycraftspy, agent, asset, covert, handler