Treachery
'tretʃəri
Definitions
Betrayal of trust; deceitful or treacherous action.
'tretʃəri
Violation of trust or faith; betrayal.
The king's advisor was accused of treachery when he conspired with the enemy.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone promising to be your friend and then secretly working against you. That act of betrayal is treachery. It's like a sneaky plot twist in a movie, where someone you thought you could trust turns out to be the bad guy.
👶 For kids: Being really, really mean to someone who trusts you, like telling their secret or breaking a promise on purpose.
More Examples
Her friends were shocked by her act of treachery.
The novel is filled with plots of jealousy, betrayal, and treachery.
How It's Used
"The politician was accused of treachery for leaking classified information to the enemy."
"Shakespeare often explores themes of treachery in his tragedies."
"The act of treachery during wartime led to the downfall of the kingdom."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
a act of treachery
A specific instance of betraying someone's trust.
"The government's decision was viewed by some as a act of treachery towards the citizens."
commit an act of treachery
To perform an action that betrays trust or loyalty.
"He was accused of committing an act of treachery against the company by revealing trade secrets."
From Old French "trecherie" (deceit, betrayal), derived from "trecheor" (betrayer), ultimately from Latin "tradere" (to hand over, betray).
The word 'treachery' has been used in English literature for centuries, often in the context of political intrigue and betrayal. Early examples can be found in Shakespeare's plays.
Memory tip
Think of a treacherous path: it's dangerous and unreliable, just like treachery.
Word Origin
"deceit, betrayal"