Treasonous: meaning, definitions and examples

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treasonous

[ˈtriːzənəs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

in politics

Involving or guilty of the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or government.

Synonyms

disloyal, faithless, traitorous, treacherous.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
treasonous	Used in formal or legal settings to describe actions that betray one's country or government. The president accused the general of being involved in treasonous activities
treacherous	Describes actions or people that betray trust, often with an implication of danger or deceit; can also describe dangerous physical conditions. His treacherous behavior led to the downfall of the entire team The mountain roads were treacherous after the storm
traitorous	Used similarly to 'treasonous', often in dramatic or literary contexts to describe someone who betrays a country or trust. The traitorous soldier leaked the confidential information to the enemy
disloyal	Applied in everyday situations to describe someone who breaks loyalty or trust in personal relationships or informal settings. She felt disloyal when she told her friend's secret
faithless	Mostly used in personal relationships, implying a breach of trust or infidelity. He was heartbroken when he discovered his partner was faithless

Examples of usage

He was arrested for his treasonous activities against the government.
The traitor was found guilty of treasonous behavior.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

general

Characterized by betrayal or disloyalty.

Synonyms

faithless, false, perfidious, unfaithful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
treasonous	Used to describe actions or behavior against one's own country. It is often used in legal or political contexts. The official was charged with treasonous activities against the state. His treasonous actions were considered a betrayal by his fellow citizens.
unfaithful	Commonly used in the context of romantic relationships to describe someone who is not loyal or has cheated. It conveys a sense of personal betrayal. He was unfaithful during their marriage, leading to their divorce. She discovered his unfaithful actions through a series of messages.
perfidious	Used to describe someone who is deceitful and untrustworthy, often in a deeply treacherous way. It has a very strong negative connotation. The perfidious ally betrayed them at the last moment. Her perfidious nature made it difficult for anyone to trust her.
faithless	Refers to someone who is not loyal or trustworthy, often in a personal relationship. It carries a tone of disappointment and betrayal. She felt heartbroken after discovering he was a faithless partner. The faithless friend abandoned them in their time of need.
false	Describes something that is not true or genuine. It can apply to statements, people, or objects. His promise turned out to be false. The rumor was completely false and baseless.

Examples of usage

She felt a deep sense of betrayal after discovering his treasonous actions.
The company suffered greatly due to the employee's treasonous behavior.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Old French 'traïson', which means betrayal.
It is related to the Latin word 'tradere', meaning to hand over or deliver, indicating a sense of giving up loyalty.

Historical Context

Throughout history, many leaders have been accused of being treasonous, often leading to severe punishments.
Benedict Arnold, an American Revolutionary War general, is one of the most infamous figures associated with treason in U.S. history.

Legal Perspectives

In many countries, treason is one of the most serious crimes and can result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Legal definitions of treason often include actions such as waging war against one's own country or supporting its enemies.

Pop Culture

In numerous films and books, the theme of treason provides intense drama, fueling stories of betrayal and moral conflict.
Popular characters like Jaime Lannister from 'Game of Thrones' navigate complex loyalties that could be considered treasonous.

Psychological Aspect

Betrayal can lead to significant emotional responses, including feelings of anger, shame, and confusion for both the betrayer and the betrayed.
Psychological studies suggest that acts considered treasonous can stem from deep-seated conflicts and personal disillusionment.

Translations

Translations of the word "treasonous" in other languages:

🇵🇹 traidor

🇮🇳 देशद्रोही

🇩🇪 verräterisch

🇮🇩 pengkhianat

🇺🇦 зрадницький

🇵🇱 zdradziecki

🇯🇵 反逆の

🇫🇷 traître

🇪🇸 traidor

🇹🇷 hain

🇰🇷 배신적인

🇸🇦 خائن

🇨🇿 zrádný

🇸🇰 zradný

🇨🇳 叛逆的

🇸🇮 izdajalski

🇮🇸 sviksamlegur

🇰🇿 сатқын

🇬🇪 მოღალატური

🇦🇿 xain

🇲🇽 traidor

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,207 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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34204 restock
34205 swiveling
34206 calcine
34207 treasonous
34208 mucky
34209 wannabe
34210 goshawk
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