unfaithful

/'ʌn'feiθful/

Thân thiện

An unfaithful partner hides a secret phone call.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not trustworthy; disloyal: Describes a person who breaks trust, betrays confidence, or is not reliable in their commitments, especially in a relationship or duty.
   • Not sexually faithful: Describes a person who engages in a sexual relationship with someone other than their spouse or committed partner.
   • Inaccurate; not true to the original: Describes a copy, translation, or representation that is not exact or is misleading.

Examples of Usage

• Describing disloyalty or betrayal:
  • He felt betrayed by his unfaithful friend who shared his secret.
  • The unfaithful servant plotted against his master.
• Describing sexual infidelity:
  • The novel explores the pain of an unfaithful husband.
  • She ended the relationship after discovering her partner was unfaithful.
• Describing inaccuracy:
  • The movie was an unfaithful adaptation of the classic book.
  • This translation is unfaithful to the original text's spirit.

Advanced Usage

• "Prove unfaithful to": To fail to uphold a promise, principle, or duty.
  • The ally proved unfaithful to the treaty.
• Literary/Formal Use: Can describe abstract concepts like memory or hope being unreliable.
  • Unfaithful memory often alters past events.

Variants and Related Words

• Unfaithfully (adverb): In an unfaithful manner.
  • He acted unfaithfully towards his vows.
• Unfaithfulness (noun): The state or quality of being unfaithful.
  • The unfaithfulness of the ally led to war.

Synonyms

• Disloyal: Not loyal to a person, country, or cause.
• Adulterous: Specifically involving voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than their spouse.
• Treacherous: Guilty of or involving betrayal or deception.
• Inconstant: Frequently changing; not loyal or faithful.

Antonyms

• Faithful: Loyal, steadfast, or sexually exclusive.
• Loyal: Giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance.
• True: Faithful or loyal.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Unfaithful to one's word": To break a promise.
  • By not showing up, he was unfaithful to his word.
• "Unfaithful steward": A biblical and literary archetype for a person entrusted with responsibility who betrays that trust.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. not trustworthy
   • an unfaithful reproduction
2. having the character of, or characteristic of, a traitor
   • the faithless Benedict Arnold
   • a lying traitorous insurrectionist
3. having sexual relations with someone other than your husband or wife, or your boyfriend or girlfriend
   • her husband was unfaithful
4. not true to duty or obligation or promises
   • an unfaithful lover

Từ đồng nghĩa

• faithless
• traitorous
• treasonable
• treasonous