Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of turncoat

35 similar words

Another word for turncoat is traitor. Other synonyms of turncoat are renegade, defector, apostate, balimbing and runagate.

Synonyms and similar words for turncoat

nounA traitor; one who turns against a previous affiliation or allegiance.

  • apostateOne who has renounced a political party, a cause, etc.
  • defectorOne who defects.
  • renegadeA disloyal person who betrays or deserts a cause, religion, political party, friend, etc.
  • balimbingA turncoat; one who defects to the other side in politics; one who switches political parties.
  • butterflyParty switcher; turncoat.
  • runagateA deserter, renegade or apostate.
  • traitorSomeone who takes arms and levies war against their country; or one who aids an enemy in conquering their country.
  • changeling archaic, figurativelyA person apt to change their loyalty or thinking; a waverer.
  • transfuge datedA turncoat.
  • turncloak rareTurncoat.
  • turntippet obsoleteA traitor; a defector; a renegade.
  • withersake archaicAn apostate or perfidious renegade.

verbTo act as a turncoat; to betray.

  • quisleTo collaborate with an (occupying) enemy power; be a quisling.
  • sell outTo betray (a person), usually a close friend or family member, for personal gain.
  • traitorizeTo be a traitor to; betray.
  • assfuck Canada, USTo betray.
  • betray
  • burn slangTo betray; to con or rob.
  • cop out slangTo abandon, let down or betray (someone).
  • cross out slangTo lie to or betray (someone); to deceive or scam (someone).
  • cross up Canada, USTo double-cross or betray (someone).
  • double-crossTo betray or go back on; to deceive someone after having gained their trust and led them to believe that they were...
  • do someone dirtyTo deliberately treat someone in an unfair or harmful manner.
  • do the dirty on Australia, UKTo treat (someone) in an unfair manner; to cheat or betray.
  • go back onTo be treacherous or faithless to; to betray.
  • knifeTo betray, especially in the context of a political slate.
  • let downTo disappoint; to betray or fail somebody.
  • play someone falseTo betray someone; to be disloyal to someone.
  • sellTo betray for money or other things.
  • sell the pass IrelandTo betray one's comrades or countrymen; to betray a cause.
  • sell down the riverTo betray, especially in a manner which causes serious difficulty for the one betrayed.
  • sell downTo betray a person; to conspire against someone for personal gain.
  • stab in the backTo betray (somebody).
  • false obsoleteTo violate, to betray (a promise, an agreement, one’s faith, etc.).
  • swike dialectal, obsoleteTo deceive, cheat; betray.

Meaning of turncoat

  1. noun A traitor; one who turns against a previous affiliation or allegiance.
  2. verb To act as a turncoat; to betray.

Full definition of turncoat

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Questions about synonyms of turncoat

What is another word for turncoat?
Turncoat has 35 synonyms on Word.ws, such as traitor, renegade, defector, apostate, balimbing and runagate.
What does turncoat mean?
Turncoat means a traitor; one who turns against a previous affiliation or allegiance.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: turncoat (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of turncoat.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/turncoat. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.