treacherous
adjective
treach·er·ous
ˈtre-chə-rəs 
ˈtrech-rəs
1
a
: likely to betray trust : unreliable
a treacherous memory
b
: providing insecure footing or support
treacherous quicksand
c
: marked by hidden dangers, hazards, or perils
2
: characterized by or manifesting treachery : perfidious
treacherously
adverb
treacherousness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of treacherous in a Sentence
a treacherous act of betrayal
They were not prepared to hike over such treacherous terrain.
The snow made their hike all the more treacherous.
Discussions about money can lead couples into treacherous territory.
Recent Examples on the Web
Those steep canyons were too treacherous to hike into—a broken ankle would require an air evacuation—so the crew’s assignment was to create a mile-long containment line in the peaks west of Mount Wilson Observatory.
—
M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
With snow accumulations up to 10 inches and widespread gusty winds, travel in these regions will remain treacherous through 4 p.m. Monday.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025
Getting there, for some, had meant crossing the Darién Gap, a dense and treacherous jungle on the border of Colombia and Panama.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Winter storm Icy roads are creating treacherous conditions across the Gulf Coast after a massive winter storm on Tuesday dumped historic snow on several states.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for treacherous 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
With snow accumulations up to 10 inches and widespread gusty winds, travel in these regions will remain treacherous through 4 p.m. Monday.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025
Getting there, for some, had meant crossing the Darién Gap, a dense and treacherous jungle on the border of Colombia and Panama.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Winter storm Icy roads are creating treacherous conditions across the Gulf Coast after a massive winter storm on Tuesday dumped historic snow on several states.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for treacherous
Dictionary Entries Near treacherous
Cite this Entry
“Treacherous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treacherous. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
treacherous
adjective
treach·er·ous
ˈtrech-(ə-)rəs
1
a
: guilty of treachery
b
: likely to betray : unreliable
a treacherous memory
2
: giving a false appearance of safety or solidity
a treacherous stretch of bog
treacherously
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share