treachery

noun

treach·​ery ˈtre-chə-rē How to pronounce treachery (audio)
ˈtrech-rē
plural treacheries
Synonyms of treachery
1
: violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence : treason
2
: an act of perfidy or treason

Synonyms of treachery

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Examples of treachery in a Sentence

a tale of treachery and revenge was furious that she revealed his secret and never forgave her for the treachery
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The killings and his six-week trial in 2023 captivated the true crime world with a mix of treachery, corruption, money, power and Southern accents. — Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 The killings of Murdaugh’s wife and son and his subsequent six-week trial captivated the true crime world with a mix of treachery, corruption, money, power and Southern accents. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 When a quarrel over an inheritance revives old hostilities, their relationship comes under pressure from greed and treachery in a conflict not of their making. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Was there a whiff of treachery among this crew, someone who might betray them to the Germans? — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for treachery

Word History

Etymology

Middle English trecherie, from Anglo-French, from trecher, tricher to deceive, from Vulgar Latin *triccare — more at trick entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of treachery was in the 13th century

Rhymes for treachery

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Browse Nearby Words

treacherousness
treachery
treacle
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Cite this Entry

“Treachery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treachery. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

treachery

noun
treach·​ery ˈtrech-(ə-)rē How to pronounce treachery (audio)
plural treacheries
1
: violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence : treason
2
: an act of treason
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