treachery
/ˈtretʃəri/ (bre, ipa) · [trˈɛtʃɚi] /ˈtretʃəri/ (ame, ipa) · [trˈɛtʃɚi] /ˈtre-chə-rē How to pronounce treachery (audio) ˈtrech-rē/ (ame, mw)
treachery — noun
1. the act of secretly harming a person or group that has put faith in you, for ins
the act of secretly harming a person or group that has put faith in you, for instance by giving their secrets to a rival or working against their interests
The general was arrested for treachery after giving battle plans to the enemy.
treachery + giving secrets to an enemy
Kian's business partner showed her treachery by stealing from the company for years.
collocation: showed her treachery
The king trusted his advisor completely, but the advisor's treachery destroyed the kingdom.
Ada called it treachery when her brother told their parents about her secret plan.
- betrayal
a more general and less dramatic term; betrayal can describe any broken trust, while treachery implies a calculated, secret act of harm
- treason
specifically refers to betraying one's own country by helping an enemy; a legal term with a narrower, political scope
- perfidy
a formal, literary word for a deliberate breach of faith; less common in everyday speech
- loyalty
the state of being faithful and devoted to someone you are connected to
- faithfulness
consistent trustworthiness and commitment over time
用法筆記
Usually uncountable when referring to the general concept ('an act of treachery'), but the countable form 'treacheries' may describe multiple specific acts.