treachery

/ˈtrɛtʃəri/
nounIntermediate
formal

The act of betraying someone's trust or confidence, often through deceit or treason.

The spy's treachery cost the country valuable intelligence.

The spy's betrayal resulted in the loss of crucial intelligence for the country.

She felt deep betrayal when she discovered his treachery.

She experienced profound hurt when she found out about his deceit.

💡

Often used in contexts involving betrayal of loyalty, trust, or duty.

Collocations

act of treacheryan instance of betrayalbetrayal of treacheryan act of deceitful betrayal

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

treacherous actphrase
an act of betrayal or deceit
treacherous behaviorphrase
behavior that involves betrayal or deceit

💡Pro Tip

Context Matters

Use 'treachery' in formal or serious contexts, such as political or military betrayal.

Gold Rule

Formal Usage

'Treachery' is a strong word and should be used carefully to avoid exaggeration.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'trecherie,' from Old French 'traïson,' from Latin 'traditio,' meaning 'handing over.'

📝Usage Notes

Often used in formal or literary contexts to describe serious betrayal, especially in political or military settings.

Word Breakdown

treach
deceitful
root
+
-ery
action or state of
suffix
English Dictionary