Perfidy

/ˈpɝ.fɪ.di/

Synonyms for "perfidy" (38 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: betrayal, treachery, apostasy, betrayal, betrayals.
  • Sentence evidence is available for perfidy, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "perfidy".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "perfidy"

Keep "perfidy" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "perfidy" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "perfidy", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "perfidy" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

8 entries
dishonestydisloyaltyethical conductethics violationimmoralityknaverylawful conductuntrustworthiness

More specific

4 entries
double-crossfeigned neutralityfeigned surrendertreachery

Collocations

6 entries
act of perfidybreach of faithcrime of perfidyperfidious actstate perfidywartime perfidy

Inflections

1 entries

Derivations

3 entries

Translations

9 translations across 6 languages.

Powered by Wiktionary

Bulgarian

2 entries
  • измяна noun (in warfare)
  • предателство noun (in warfare)

Finnish

1 entries
  • sotapetos noun (in warfare)

Hungarian

2 entries
  • perfídia noun (in warfare)
  • álnokság noun (in warfare)

Russian

1 entries
  • вероло́мство noun (in warfare)

Swedish

2 entries
  • förräderi noun (in warfare)
  • förrädiskt förfarande noun (in warfare)

Ukrainian

1 entries
  • віроломство noun (in warfare)

Sample sentences

7 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

Stratagems must be carefully distinguished strategy from perfidy, since the former are allowed, whereas the latter is prohibited.

Source: wiktionary

Abuse of a protective emblem amounts to perfidy and constitutes a war crime under the customary law of armed conflict.

Source: wiktionary

Ruses of war are legitimate so long as they do not involve treachery or perfidy on the part of the belligerent resorting to them.

Source: wiktionary

Cyberattacks almost inevitably involve an element of deception, such as tricking a user to click on a malicious link. So, to what extent could cyberattacks count as perfidy and therefore be illegal given international humanitarian law?

Source: wiktionary

Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "perfidy"?

Closest matches include betrayal, treachery, apostasy, betrayal, betrayals.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "perfidy"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "perfidy"