Untrustworthy: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe people or things that cannot be trusted in general. This term is broad and can apply to various situations involving lack of trust.

• She found him untrustworthy and decided not to share her secrets with him.
• The politician's untrustworthy behavior turned many voters against him.

Used to describe someone who lies or cheats. This term is also negative but doesn't necessarily imply the same level of intent to deceive as 'deceitful'.

• His dishonest actions caused him to lose the trust of his colleagues.
• She was dismissed from work for being dishonest about her qualifications.

Describes people or things that frequently fail to do what is expected of them. This is often used in the context of dependability rather than honesty.

• The car has become unreliable and breaks down almost every week.
• He's unreliable and often forgets important meetings.

Applied to people who deliberately try to mislead or lie to others. It has a strong negative connotation and suggests intentional dishonesty.

• The deceitful salesman tried to sell the broken car as if it was new.
• She was known for her deceitful nature and often manipulated others for her benefit.

Often used in the context of relationships, especially romantic ones, to describe someone who is not loyal or cheats on their partner.

• He felt devastated when he discovered his partner had been unfaithful.
• Unfaithful actions can severely damage a relationship.

It is used to describe someone or something that is not reliable or dependable. It can be used in both formal and informal situations.

• She is untrustworthy when it comes to keeping secrets.
• The old machinery is untrustworthy and should be replaced.

Describes someone or something that cannot be depended upon. It has a less intense negative connotation compared to words like 'treacherous' or 'duplicitous' and is used in everyday situations.

• His unreliable behavior makes him hard to work with.
• The weather forecast is notoriously unreliable.

Used to describe someone who is not loyal or is unfaithful, particularly in relationships. It has a negative connotation and is often used in serious or emotional contexts.

• After years of being together, he found out she was faithless.
• A faithless partner can cause a lot of heartache.

Typically describes someone who betrays trust or is deceitful. It can also describe something that is hazardous or dangerous. The word has a strong negative connotation.

• His treacherous actions led to the downfall of the whole plan.
• The mountain path is treacherous and should be avoided.

This term describes someone who is deceitful or two-faced, often pretending to be someone they're not. It has a negative connotation and is used in more formal or serious contexts.

• He was revealed to be a duplicitous businessman who cheated his clients.
• Her duplicitous nature made it hard to trust her.