treacherous
gb/tɹˈɛt͡ʃɚəs/ us/tɹˈɛt͡ʃɚəs/
B2
English
~ 6700
veszélyes, alattomos, áruló, hitszegő, hűtlen, csalóka, megbízhatatlan, megtévesztő
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[treacherous] [conditions/road/ground/weather]
Heavy snow has made the mountain roads treacherous tonight.
Az erős havazás miatt ma este veszélyesek a hegyi utak.
The hikers turned back when the path became too steep and treacherous.
A túrázók visszafordultak, amikor az ösvény túl meredekké és veszélyessé vált.
Thin, treacherous ice covered the lake, so no one was allowed to skate.
Strong winds and treacherous seas forced the captain to delay departure.
Rescuers had to cross treacherous terrain to reach the trapped climbers.
Learner examples
The road is treacherous after the rain, so drive slowly.
Eső után csúszós és veszélyes az út, ezért vezess lassan.
We did not swim because the water looked cold and treacherous.
Nem úsztunk, mert a víz hidegnek és veszélyesnek tűnt.
Climbing that old, broken ladder would be treacherous.
The path down the hill was narrow and treacherous in the dark.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "treacherous" for any strong danger, when it usually suggests danger that is hidden, surprising, or greater than it appears. For clear, obvious danger, "very dangerous" or "extremely risky" is often more natural. Also, do not confuse "treacherous" with "tricky"; "tricky" can mean just difficult, but "treacherous" implies real risk of harm.
Meaning
dangerous because of hidden risks
Collocations
treacherous roads
|treacherous conditions
|treacherous ice
|treacherous terrain
|treacherous waters
|treacherous mountain pass
Synonyms
dangerous (More general and common; does not always suggest hidden or surprising danger.)
|
perilous (More formal and dramatic; emphasizes great risk, without necessarily implying hiddenness.)
|
hazardous (Often used in formal or technical contexts (e.g. work, chemicals), slightly less emotional than "treacherous.")
Antonyms
safe (Describes conditions that do not cause harm or risk.)
|
secure (Emphasizes protection from danger or risk, the opposite of being unstable or risky.)
Themes
safety
|nature
|travel
Definition
Very dangerous because something looks safe but is not, or because it can suddenly become unsafe.
Dangerous and unreliable because of hidden or unpredictable physical risks, such as unstable ground, bad weather, or unsafe conditions.
C1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is treacherous to [someone]
They saw his decision to leak the documents as a treacherous act.
Áruló tettnek tekintették azt a döntését, hogy kiszivárogtatja a dokumentumokat.
A treacherous ally can be more dangerous than an open enemy.
Egy áruló szövetséges veszélyesebb lehet, mint egy nyílt ellenség.
She felt deeply hurt by her treacherous friends who shared her secrets.
The general was executed for his treacherous attempts to overthrow the government.
History remembers him as a treacherous leader who sold out his own people.
Learner examples
He was a treacherous friend who lied to everyone.
Áruló barát volt, aki mindenkinek hazudott.
She will not forgive his treacherous behavior.
Nem fogja megbocsátani az áruló viselkedését.
They called him treacherous after he helped the enemy.
A treacherous partner can destroy a team.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "treacherous" with "tricky" or "sneaky." While those can describe small, everyday behavior, "treacherous" usually describes very serious disloyalty or betrayal. It is too strong for mild problems in a friendship or a game. Also, do not use "treacherous" to describe someone simply difficult or annoying; it specifically involves breaking trust.
Meaning
disloyal and ready to betray
Collocations
treacherous friend
|treacherous ally
|treacherous act
|treacherous behavior
|treacherous plot
|treacherous betrayal
Synonyms
traitorous (Often used in political or national contexts; very close in strength to "treacherous.")
|
disloyal (More general and slightly softer; may not sound as strong or shocking as "treacherous.")
|
faithless (More literary or old-fashioned; can refer to breaking promises or romantic loyalty.)
Antonyms
loyal (Describes someone who stays with and supports others, even when it is difficult.)
|
faithful (Highlights steady support and keeping promises; often used in personal or romantic contexts.)
Themes
relationships
|morality
|politics
Definition
Not loyal and likely to turn against someone who trusts you, often in a very serious or bad way.
Extremely disloyal and likely to betray a person, group, or promise, especially in a serious or harmful way.
C1
3
Usage pattern:
[treacherous] [memory/feeling/appearance]
Memory is treacherous, and he could no longer recall the exact words she used.
Az emlékezet csalóka, és ő már nem tudta pontosan felidézni, milyen szavakat használt a nő.
The apparent calm before the storm proved treacherous, lulling residents into staying outside.
A vihar előtti látszólagos nyugalom csalókának bizonyult: hamis biztonságérzetbe ringatta a lakókat, akik emiatt kint maradtak.
She knew her feelings could be treacherous, so she waited before making a big decision.
The numbers gave a treacherous sense of security that hid the company’s real problems.
First impressions can be treacherous when you are choosing a business partner.
Learner examples
His memory was treacherous, so he wrote everything down.
Csalóka volt az emlékezete, ezért mindent leírt.
A calm sea can be treacherous because a storm may come fast.
A nyugodt tenger csalóka lehet, mert gyorsan jöhet a vihar.
Feelings are treacherous, so try to think carefully too.
First looks are sometimes treacherous and do not show the truth.
Common mistake:
Learners may use "treacherous" only for people, but this sense often describes abstract things like memory, calm, or appearances that mislead you. In many everyday situations, "unreliable" or "deceptive" is more common; "treacherous" sounds stronger and more dramatic.
Meaning
unreliable and likely to mislead
Collocations
treacherous memory
|treacherous calm
|treacherous feeling
|treacherous sense of security
|treacherous assumption
|treacherous impression
Synonyms
unreliable (More general; does not always include the idea of harming or betraying someone.)
|
deceptive (Focuses on giving a wrong idea; may not always suggest emotional harm or betrayal.)
Antonyms
trustworthy (Can be relied on without fear of being misled or harmed.)
|
dependable (Emphasizes steady and predictable reliability when you rely on something.)
Themes
thinking
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not reliable and may suddenly fail or give the wrong idea when you trust it, like a memory or a feeling.
Unreliable in a way that unexpectedly harms or misleads someone who trusts or relies on it, such as a feeling, memory, or appearance.
Grammar
Dictionary form
treacherous
IPA
GB/tɹˈɛt͡ʃɚəs/
US/tɹˈɛt͡ʃɚəs/
Syllables & stress
treach - er - ous (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (treach)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: treacherous
Word family
Core family
treachery
noun C1
treacherously
adverb C1
Advanced or less common
treacherousness
noun
Expressions
navigate treacherous waters
1/nˈævəɡˌeɪt tɹˈɛt͡ʃɚəs wˈɔtɚz/
idiom
handle a risky, delicate situation
To deal carefully with a very difficult and risky situation, often where problems are hidden.
Examples
- The company had to navigate treacherous waters during the financial crisis.
- As a new leader, she is trying to navigate treacherous waters in a divided organization.
- Parents often feel they are navigating treacherous waters when talking to teenagers about social media.