perfidious
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of perfidious
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin perfidiōsus “faithless, dishonest”; cf. perfidy, -ous
Explanation
If someone accuses you of being perfidious, you should probably be offended — it means underhanded, treacherous, deceitful — even evil. If you betray people often, you're perfidious: traitors are extremely perfidious. Besides betrayal, this word implies lying and maybe other kinds of awful behavior, like stealing and taking bribes. Everyone tries to avoid perfidious people. Perfidious is kind of an old-fashioned word, but being perfidious will never go out of style, unfortunately.
Vocabulary lists containing perfidious
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Malodorous, Nefarious, Obstreperous, Perfidious -- I could go on all day.
From Washington Post • Aug. 2, 2018
Henry Metayer, author of a tragedy called the Perfidious Brother, committed it to Theobald, of Dunciad memory, for examination and correction.
From The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 6, June 1810 by Carpenter, S. C. (Stephen Cullen)
The "Perfidious Albion" of the opening of the century is the ally of France under Napoleon's heir; Russia, twice invaded by France, which looked on with satisfaction at French reverses, becomes its friend.
From The Crowd; study of the popular mind by Le Bon, Gustave
Perfidious Maid, I might have thought thou'dst prove False to thy Prince, and Rival in my Love.
From The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume III by Summers, Montague
"Perfidious wretch, you're capable of having talent—which of course will spoil everything!"
From The Tragic Muse by James, Henry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
