TREACHEROUS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does treacherous mean? 

• TREACHEROUS (adjective)
  The adjective TREACHEROUS has 2 senses:

1. dangerously unstable and unpredictable

2. tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans

  Familiarity information: TREACHEROUS used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TREACHEROUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Dangerously unstable and unpredictable

Synonyms:

treacherous; unreliable

Context example:

an unreliable trestle

Similar:

dangerous; unsafe (involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans

Synonyms:

perfidious; punic; treacherous

Context example:

treacherous intrigues

Similar:

unfaithful (not true to duty or obligation or promises)

Derivation:

treachery (an act of deliberate betrayal)

treachery (betrayal of a trust)

 Context examples 

He was, perhaps, but at treacherous play with her.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

—smiling and friendly, when it was so treacherous, that I go half wild when I think of it.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He receives these wares not only from treacherous valets or maids, but frequently from genteel ruffians, who have gained the confidence and affection of trusting women.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Are you sure she is safe?" whispered Jo, looking remorsefully at the golden head, which might have been swept away from her sight forever under the treacherous ice.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The captain was in the porch, keeping himself carefully out of the way of a treacherous shot, should any be intended.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

At last, as they drew near the end of their journey, this treacherous servant threatened to kill her mistress if she ever told anyone what had happened.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Yet I am of opinion, this defect arises chiefly from a perverse, restive disposition; for they are cunning, malicious, treacherous, and revengeful.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

He was friendly, in a treacherous sort of way, smiling into one’s face the while he meditated some underhand trick, as, for instance, when he stole from Buck’s food at the first meal.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

It was Sunday, and the whole time between morning and afternoon service was required by the general in exercise abroad or eating cold meat at home; and great as was Catherine's curiosity, her courage was not equal to a wish of exploring them after dinner, either by the fading light of the sky between six and seven o'clock, or by the yet more partial though stronger illumination of a treacherous lamp.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

To this end, I had sat well back on the form, and while seeming to be busy with my sum, had held my slate in such a manner as to conceal my face: I might have escaped notice, had not my treacherous slate somehow happened to slip from my hand, and falling with an obtrusive crash, directly drawn every eye upon me; I knew it was all over now, and, as I stooped to pick up the two fragments of slate, I rallied my forces for the worst.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)