Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Involving or constituting treason; betraying one's country or allegiance: "treasonous" describes actions, speech, or behavior that amount to the crime of betraying one's nation or sovereign.
   • Characteristic of a traitor; faithless: It characterizes a person or act as deliberately disloyal and deceptive towards a cause, group, or individual to whom loyalty is owed.

Usage

The adjective "treasonous" is used formally and is very strong. It typically modifies nouns like act, activity, speech, plot, behavior, or individual. It implies a serious legal and moral accusation.

Examples

• The general was executed for his treasonous correspondence with the enemy.
• Leaking those classified documents was a treasonous act.
• The senator denied the treasonous allegations, claiming they were politically motivated.
• History remembers him as a treasonous figure who switched sides during the war.

Advanced Usage

• "treasonous intent": The deliberate purpose or plan to commit treason.
  • The prosecutor had to prove the defendant's treasonous intent.
• Often used in historical, legal, and political contexts to describe the gravest forms of disloyalty.

Variants and Related Words

• Treason (n): The crime itself.
  • He was convicted of high treason.
• Treasonably (adv): In a treasonous manner.
  • He was accused of acting treasonably.
• Treacherous (adj): While similar in meaning of betrayal, "treacherous" is broader and can describe dangerous/unreliable things (e.g., ) and not solely the legal crime of treason.

Synonyms

• Traitorous: (Very close synonym, often interchangeable).
• Seditious: (Promoting rebellion against authority, but not always identical to betraying the nation to an enemy).
• Perfidious: (Literary; deceitful and untrustworthy).
• Subversive: (Seeking to undermine or overthrow an established system).

Antonyms

• Loyal
• Patriotic
• Faithful
• Devoted

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To commit treason: The standard verb phrase for the act.
  • The court found him guilty of committing treason.
• High treason: A legal term for treason against the sovereign or state.
  • The charge was high treason, punishable by death.

Adjective

1. having the character of, or characteristic of, a traitor
   • the faithless Benedict Arnold
   • a lying traitorous insurrectionist