disloyalty
/'dis'lɔiəlti/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The quality or state of being disloyal: The characteristic of failing to support or be faithful to a person, country, group, or set of principles to which one is bound by duty, allegiance, or trust.
- An act of betrayal: A specific instance or demonstration of such unfaithfulness.
Usage
- Disloyalty is an uncountable noun referring to the abstract quality or state. It can also be used in a countable sense to refer to specific acts.
- It describes a breach of loyalty, which is a strong feeling of support, faithfulness, or duty.
- Common contexts include personal relationships (friendship, marriage), politics, employment, and patriotism.
Examples
- Abstract Quality:
- His disloyalty to the company was revealed when he shared trade secrets with a competitor.
- The general was accused of disloyalty for questioning the king's orders.
- Specific Act:
- She could not forgive what she saw as a profound disloyalty.
- The senator's vote against the party line was viewed as an act of disloyalty.
Advanced Usage
- "Disloyalty to oneself": Acting against one's own principles, values, or best interests.
- He felt that accepting the bribe would be a disloyalty to his own moral code.
- Used in formal or serious accusations, often implying a moral or ethical failing.
Variants and Related Words
- Disloyal (adj): Not loyal; faithless.
- A disloyal friend.
- Loyalty (n): The quality of being loyal (the direct antonym).
- Disloyally (adv): In a disloyal manner.
Synonyms
- Treachery: Willful betrayal of trust, often more severe and conspiratorial.
- Perfidy: Deliberate breach of faith or trust; treachery (literary).
- Infidelity: Unfaithfulness, especially in a marriage (often specifically sexual).
- Betrayal: The act of betraying someone or something.
- Faithlessness: Lack of faith or loyalty.
Antonyms
- Loyalty: A strong feeling of support or allegiance.
- Fidelity: Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief.
- Fealty: A feudal tenant's sworn loyalty to a lord; historical but used for strong allegiance.
- Allegiance: Loyalty or commitment to a superior or to a group or cause.