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traitor

traitor

320 3.9
A person who breaks the trust of their country, group, or friend to help an enemy
  • noun
  • /ˈtreɪtər/
  • Offensive
: traidor
  • The community regarded him as a traitor after he revealed their plans to the enemy.
  • turn traitor
  • considered a traitor
  • race traitors

Expose them for being the traitors that they are.

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Examples

  • Already, several of his former colleagues had resigned, and others were executed as traitors to the revolution.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Whoever attends such a dialogue with a regime that commits these crimes is a traitor to the people.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Where are you going, traitor?

  • And initially, initially, people even called me a traitor in Greece.

  • For the last time, Traitor, I do not take orders from Greybacks.

  • There are but two parties now, traitors and patriots.

  • Kilpatrick himself was the traitor who had to be executed.

  • But cruel are the times when we are traitors and do not know ourselves.

  • We had already been suspecting for a longer time that there was a traitor in our barrack.

    Academic text (2008)
  • After the war, the eighty-six-year-old Hamsun was considered a traitor and was prosecuted before the High Court.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

defector
vstraitor
37 7.6

A person who leaves their country or group to join an opposing side

includes any abandonment of loyalty, not only joining an opponent
renegade
vstraitor
31 7.9

A person who leaves and betrays their group

emphasizes betrayal but can also be secret or ideological
betrayer
vstraitor
26 6.3

A person who breaks someone's trust by revealing secrets

is the common label for that same general disloyal action
sellout
vstraitor
  • Offensive
18 7.0

A person who betrays their principles for personal gain

is neutral on motive and includes betrayals without profit motive
collaborator
vstraitor
  • Offensive
17 8.1

A person who helps an enemy that occupies their country during a war

is a general term for betraying one’s country or group
turncoat
vstraitor
  • Offensive
12 8.2

A person who leaves their group to join the opposite side

is the general act of betraying loyalty without switching sides
Judas
vstraitor
  • Offensive
9 8.4

A person who betrays a friend while seeming loyal

covers betrayal generally, not only friendly pretence
backstabber
vstraitor
  • Offensive
7 5.1

A person who acts friendly but secretly betrays someone who trusts them

is broader, including betrayals without a friendly disguise
deserter
vstraitor
4 5.1

A person who leaves a group or cause and is seen as disloyal

covers betrayal broadly, not only physical leaving or desertion
double-crosser
vstraitor
  • Offensive
3 6.8

A person who pretends to be loyal but betrays someone

is more general and can include open or private betrayal
ratter
vstraitor
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A person who betrays their friends or group

is a wide label covering betrayal across many contexts
quisling
vstraitor
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A person who helps an enemy that controls their country

is broader, covering betrayal beyond occupation collaboration
fifth columnist
vstraitor
1 9.9

A person who secretly helps an enemy inside their country

denotes betrayal more generally, not only covert internal support
double-dealer
vstraitor
  • Offensive
1 8.5

A person who pretends to be a friend but secretly works against others

focuses on betrayal broadly, not only hypocritical behaviour
recreant
vstraitor
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is not brave and betrays friends or causes

is neutral on motive and does not imply cowardice
treasonist
vstraitor
  • Formal
1 9.9

A person who betrays their country by giving secrets to enemies

covers betrayal of any group or person, not only the country
treacher
vstraitor
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who betrays trust or their country

is the modern general term rather than the archaic form
traitress
vstraitor
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A woman who betrays people or groups she should support

is the same idea but not gender specific

Antonyms

157 3.5

Someone who loves and supports their country and is ready to serve it

43 4.8

A person who supports a government, leader, or cause during a revolt

Compounds

3 9.9

A person others insult for supporting people of another race

How Loyal

patriot
157 3.5
loyalist
43 4.8
supporter
810 1.0
traitor
  • Offensive
320 3.9
double agent
29 4.9

Surface Forms

traitor singular
traitors plural

Etymology

Traitor comes from the Latin verb tradere, which means 'to hand over'. So a traitor is someone who 'hands over' a friend, group, or secret to an enemy, which is why the word means a person who betrays trust.