ENGLISH
REFERENCE

treacherous

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtɹɛtʃɝəs// UK //tɹˈɛtʃəɹəs// treach·er·ous

adj. dangerous because of hidden risks or because you cannot trust someone. You use this to describe slippery roads or people who might betray you.

adj. characterised by hidden dangers or hazards; also describes a person who is guilty of deception or betrayal. Often used to describe environmental conditions like ice or currents.


SIMPLE

The mountain roads are treacherous during the winter.

CONTEXTUAL

The hikers decided to turn back because the narrow path along the cliff became too treacherous in the rain.

COMPLEX

The protagonist must navigate a treacherous political landscape where today's allies could easily become tomorrow's enemies in the pursuit of power.

Synonyms
Origin

From Old French trecheros, tricheros (“deceitful”), equivalent to treacher + -ous. See treacher.

Usage

Commonly used both literally for physical hazards and figuratively for social or political betrayal.

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