Faithlessly: meaning, definitions and examples

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faithlessly

 

[ˈfeɪθləsli ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adverb

in a way that lacks loyalty or trustworthiness

Without faith, loyalty, or trust; unfaithfully.

Synonyms

betrayingly, disloyally, treacherously, unfaithfully.

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Word Description / Examples
faithlessly

Repeated word - already explained above.

unfaithfully

Primarily used in romantic relationships to describe someone who is not faithful to their partner. It can also be used more broadly for any broken trust.

  • She confessed to acting unfaithfully in their marriage.
  • He felt hurt after discovering she behaved unfaithfully.
disloyally

Generally used when someone is not loyal to a person, group, or cause. Often implies a pattern of untrustworthiness.

  • He spoke disloyally about his teammates when they were not around.
  • She acted disloyally by helping the opposition.
treacherously

Implies extreme betrayal, often dangerous or harmful. It has strong negative connotations.

  • The general acted treacherously by planning an ambush against his own troops.
  • He treacherously turned against his friends for personal gain.
betrayingly

Implies a direct act of betrayal, where trust is broken through a specific action. Often used when someone helps an enemy or reveals secrets.

  • She looked at him betrayingly after telling his secret to others.
  • He walked away betrayingly, feeling no remorse for switching sides.

Examples of usage

  • She was accused of acting faithlessly towards her friends.
  • The politician spoke faithlessly and lost the trust of the voters.
  • They promised to support each other, but one of them acted faithlessly.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word 'faith' comes from the Latin 'fides,' which means trust or belief.
  • Adding '-lessly' transforms words to mean 'without', so 'faithlessly' literally means 'without faith'.
  • Similar words include 'faithful', which denotes loyalty, while 'faithless' is the opposite.

Literature

  • In many literary works, characters who act faithlessly often experience betrayal or loss, reflecting deep emotional struggles.
  • The theme of faithlessness appears frequently in tragic love stories, where trust is broken and relationships are tested.
  • Classic literature often uses faithlessness as a device to explore human flaws, as seen in Shakespeare's 'Othello'.

Psychology

  • People labeled as faithless may struggle with attachments, fostering insecurities in their relationships.
  • Studies suggest that a lack of trust can stem from past traumas, leading to patterns of faithlessness in later relationships.
  • Expressing faith in others often correlates with positive mental health, while faithlessness can lead to feelings of isolation.

Pop Culture

  • Songs about betrayal, like 'Back to December' by Taylor Swift, highlight personal experiences of faithlessness and the pain it causes.
  • TV series often illustrate faithlessness through dramatic plot twists, showing characters' fall from trust to deceit.
  • The concept of faithlessness plays a major role in many popular movies, such as 'Gone Girl,' where trust is fundamentally shattered.

History

  • Throughout history, many political leaders have been viewed as faithless when failing to uphold promises, leading to revolutions.
  • The concept of faithfulness and its opposite have been central to discussions in ethics and moral philosophy since ancient times.
  • Various religious texts often outline the consequences of faithlessness, promoting the virtues of loyalty and trust in many cultures.

Translations

Translations of the word "faithlessly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 infielmente

🇮🇳 विश्वासघातपूर्वक

🇩🇪 treulos

🇮🇩 tidak setia

🇺🇦 невірно

🇵🇱 niewiernie

🇯🇵 裏切って (uragitte)

🇫🇷 infidèlement

🇪🇸 infielmente

🇹🇷 sadakatsizce

🇰🇷 배신하게 (baesinhage)

🇸🇦 بخيانة

🇨🇿 nevěrně

🇸🇰 neverne

🇨🇳 不忠实地 (bù zhōngshí de)

🇸🇮 nezvesto

🇮🇸 svikull

🇰🇿 сенімсіздікпен

🇬🇪 მოღალატურად

🇦🇿 sadiq olmadan

🇲🇽 infielmente

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,678, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.