Word
traitorous
Phoneticstrai·tor·ous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɹeɪtɝəs/
UK/tɹˈeɪtəɹəs/
Definition
adj. acting against your own country or group by helping its enemies or breaking trust. You use it for behaviour that feels like a deep betrayal.
adj. involving betrayal of loyalty or allegiance, especially to a country, organization, or cause. Often describes actions, statements, or plans that aid an enemy or undermine trust.
Examples
“He faces charges for his traitorous actions against the state.”
“The newspaper called the leaked documents traitorous because they gave secret plans to a foreign power.”
“The novel explores whether the officer's traitorous letters sprang from ideology, greed, or a misguided attempt to end the war sooner.”
Examples
simple
“He faces charges for his traitorous actions against the state.”
contextual
“The newspaper called the leaked documents traitorous because they gave secret plans to a foreign power.”
complex
“The novel explores whether the officer's traitorous letters sprang from ideology, greed, or a misguided attempt to end the war sooner.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “traitorous” in context.
Verb
01. condemn as traitorous
“Historians condemned his wartime broadcasts as traitorous.”
verb + prep + adj
02. consider traitorous
“Many voters considered his deal with lobbyists traitorous.”
verb + adj
03. deem traitorous
“The tribunal deemed his cooperation with the enemy traitorous.”
verb + adj
04. denounce as traitorous
“Opposition leaders denounced the secret agreement as traitorous.”
verb + prep + adj
Adjective
05. deeply traitorous
“Selling names of agents to rivals was seen as deeply traitorous.”
adv + adj
06. fundamentally traitorous
“Critics argued the pact was fundamentally traitorous to national interests.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. traitorous act
“Leaking the defence plans was a traitorous act that shocked the nation.”
adj + noun
08. a deeply traitorous act
“Handing over the codes was a deeply traitorous act.”
09. a traitorous alliance with rivals
“The faction formed a traitorous alliance with rivals to seize power.”
10. a traitorous betrayal of trust
“Sharing passwords with competitors was a traitorous betrayal of trust.”
11. condemned as utterly traitorous
“The minister's secret deal was condemned as utterly traitorous by the press.”
12. deemed traitorous by the court
“His collaboration with hostile forces was deemed traitorous by the court.”
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
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