1
as in infidelity
lack of faithfulness especially to one's husband or wife
his wife's perfidy was a moment of uncharacteristic weakness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in treachery
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another
the full cost—both in compromised intelligence and in human life—of the double agent's perfidy is not yet known
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perfidy
Rational arguments are unlikely to either persuade those convinced of the perfidy of the green transition or allay the grievances that fuel the populist ferment in the West.
—
Edoardo Campanella, Foreign Affairs, 25 July 2024
To Netanyahu’s supporters urging restraint by Israel is an act of perfidy, rather than an instance of a president upholding his oath to protect American interests.
—Ben Krull, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2024
Drawing on American foreign policy circa 9/11 and the Iraq War, these pieces were huge collages of perfidies that Weinberger fashioned into a narrative of governmental misdeeds.
—Wyatt Mason, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
For a regime that has staked much of its credibility and political future on the war in Ukraine, Putin and his Kremlin allies need to keep the domestic focus on the perfidy of the foes next door.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Edoardo Campanella, Foreign Affairs, 25 July 2024
To Netanyahu’s supporters urging restraint by Israel is an act of perfidy, rather than an instance of a president upholding his oath to protect American interests.
—Ben Krull, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2024
Drawing on American foreign policy circa 9/11 and the Iraq War, these pieces were huge collages of perfidies that Weinberger fashioned into a narrative of governmental misdeeds.
—Wyatt Mason, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
For a regime that has staked much of its credibility and political future on the war in Ukraine, Putin and his Kremlin allies need to keep the domestic focus on the perfidy of the foes next door.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for perfidy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfidy
Noun
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Denver jurors are expected to hear this summer about the many allegations of infidelity, coercion, scheming and fraud that have divided one of the city’s most prominent families.—
Justin Wingerter,
The Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2025
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Co-written by Gaines and Qasim Basir, The Dutchman stars André Holland as Clay, a successful Black man grappling with his wife Kaya’s (Zazie Beetz) infidelity, as well as his own self-perception versus how the world sees him because of the color of his skin.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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His greatest dream, beside destroying Nato from within, is dividing the west and China - as a return favor for the treachery of Nixon’s demarche.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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Witness was his 1952 manifesto on fellow-traveling American liberals and their treachery, which emboldened the Soviet Union.—
Michael Kimmage,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The faith is rooted in the Vedas, an ancient Hindu scripture and prescribes the five lifetime vows: no alcohol, no addictions, no adultery, no meat and no impurity of body and mind.—
James Powel,
USA TODAY,
9 Mar. 2025
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Under Taliban rule, morality laws are strictly enforced, and activities considered immoral or against Islamic principles—such as pornography, adultery, or LGBTQ+ content—are harshly punished.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Ultimately, cost-inflicting behaviors are driven by the all-consuming fear of abandonment or betrayal.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
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The top Senate Democrat's support for the bill moving forward, in which he was joined by nine other members of the chamber's Democratic Caucus, prevented a government shutdown, but was seen by many in his party as a betrayal.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Similarly, alienating a President seemingly intent on smashing anything approaching dissent or disloyalty is not a risk many Washington institutions are willing to take at the moment.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
12 Feb. 2025
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Another document, likely written by an officer, recorded acts of disloyalty by North Korean subordinates - a common practice in the totalitarian state, where citizens are encouraged to inform on each other.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Jane was subsequently convicted of treason and sentenced to death.—
Pan Pylas,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
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Yoon has presidential immunity from most criminal prosecutions but that doesn’t cover grave charges like rebellion and treason.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to perfidy
Cite this Entry
“Perfidy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfidy. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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