perfidious

/pə:'fidiəs/

Thân thiện

A friend's perfidious actions left him feeling deeply betrayed.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Deceitful and untrustworthy; deliberately faithless: Describes a person, action, or nature that betrays trust or loyalty, often through deliberate deception. 2. Treacherous: Characterized by a readiness to betray confidence or allegiance.

Usage

The word "perfidious" is a formal and strong adjective used to describe a profound breach of faith. It implies intentional, calculated betrayal, not mere carelessness. It is often used in literary, historical, or political contexts.

Examples

• The king was overthrown by his perfidious advisor, who had secretly conspired with the enemy.
• History remembers him as a perfidious ally who broke every treaty he signed.
• She was heartbroken by her friend's perfidious act of sharing her confidential secrets.

Advanced Usage

• "Perfidious Albion": A historical literary epithet for England, used particularly by French writers, suggesting a nation perceived as treacherously pursuing its own interests in foreign policy.
• Inherent Nature: Often used to suggest the betrayal is a fundamental character trait, not a one-time act. E.g., "the perfidious nature of the regime's promises."

Variants and Related Words

• Perfidy (noun): The act or an instance of being perfidious; treachery.
  • His perfidy shocked everyone who had trusted him.
• Perfidiously (adverb): In a perfidious manner.
  • He perfidiously switched sides during the conflict.

Synonyms

• Treacherous: Guilty of or involving betrayal of trust.
• Traitorous: Involving betrayal of one's country, group, etc.
• Faithless: Disloyal, especially to a spouse or partner.
• Duplicitous: Deceitful in speech or conduct.

Antonyms

• Faithful: Loyal and steadfast.
• Loyal: Giving or showing firm and constant support.
• Trustworthy: Able to be relied on as honest or truthful.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A perfidious friend: A classic phrase describing the ultimate betrayal from someone within one's circle of trust.
• Perfidious to the core: An emphatic phrase meaning thoroughly and inherently treacherous.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans
   • Punic faith
   • the perfidious Judas
   • the fiercest and most treacherous of foes
   • treacherous intrigues

Từ đồng nghĩa

• punic
• treacherous