treacherous

[ trech-er-uhs ]
/ ˈtrɛtʃ ər əs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR treacherous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

characterized by faithlessness or readiness to betray trust; traitorous.
deceptive, untrustworthy, or unreliable.
unstable or insecure, as footing.
dangerous; hazardous: a treacherous climb.

Origin of treacherous

1300–50; Middle English trecherous < Anglo-French, equivalent to trecher deceiver ( trech(ier) to deceive + -er -er2) + -ous -ous. Cf. French tricheur trickster

OTHER WORDS FROM treacherous

Words nearby treacherous

trayf, traymobile, trazodone, trc, tre corde, treacherous, treachery, treacle, treacle mustard, tread, tread the boards

Words related to treacherous

tricky, unreliable, slippery, ominous, hazardous, unsafe, precarious, icy, ticklish, unstable, risky, perilous, difficult, catchy, deceitful, deceptive, double-dealing, duplicitous, faithless, fly-by-night

Example sentences from the Web for treacherous

British Dictionary definitions for treacherous

treacherous
/ (ˈtrɛtʃərəs) /

adjective

betraying or likely to betray faith or confidence
unstable, unreliable, or dangerous treacherous weather; treacherous ground

Derived forms of treacherous

treacherously, adverb treacherousness, noun