treasonable
/'tri:znəbl/ Cách viết khác : (treasonous) /'tri:znəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective 1. Involving or constituting treason; betraying one's country or sovereign: Describes actions, speech, or conduct that amount to the crime of treason, which is typically defined as levying war against one's own nation or giving aid and comfort to its enemies. 2. Characteristic of a traitor; faithless: Conveys a sense of deep personal betrayal and disloyalty, often with the implication of deceit.
Usage and Examples
- The senator was accused of treasonable communication with a foreign power.
- Leaking those classified documents was a treasonable act that compromised national security.
- His treasonable plot to overthrow the government was discovered in time.
- (Figurative) In her anger, she accused him of treasonable disloyalty for siding with her critics.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- Legal vs. General Use: In strict legal contexts, "treasonable" refers specifically to acts meeting the legal definition of treason. In broader, more figurative use, it can describe any perceived profound betrayal of trust or allegiance (e.g., a group, a leader, a cause).
- "Treasonable" vs. "Seditious": While related, "seditious" refers to speech or action inciting rebellion against authority, which may not reach the level of aiding an enemy nation, a key element of "treasonable" acts.
Variants and Related Words
- Treason (n.): The crime itself.
- Treasonous (adj.): A synonym for "treasonable," often used interchangeably.
- Traitor (n.): A person who commits treason or betrays a trust.
- Traitorous (adj.): Similar to "treasonable," but can be used more broadly for personal betrayals beyond national treason.
Synonyms
- Seditious
- Subversive
- Insurrectionary
- Mutinous
- Perfidious (emphasizes deceitful disloyalty)
Antonyms
- Loyal
- Patriotic
- Faithful
- Staunch
Idioms and Phrases
- To be guilty of treasonable intent: To possess the deliberate aim to commit treason.
- (On) charges of treasonable activity: Facing legal accusations for actions constituting or related to treason.
Adjective
- having the character of, or characteristic of, a traitor
- the faithless Benedict Arnold
- a lying traitorous insurrectionist