faithless

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈfeɪθləs/ UK /ˈfeɪθləs/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like faceless /θ/ vs /s/

Freq #29561

Meanings

1

adj
disloyal, unreliable, or unworthy of trust

The ruler surrounded himself with faithless advisers who deserted him in the crisis.
2

adj
sexually unfaithful to a spouse or partner

The play centers on a faithless husband and the consequences of his deception.
3

adj
lacking religious faith or belief

The preacher condemned the age as faithless, though many listeners disagreed.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · disloyal, unreliable, or... disloyal treacherous untrustworthy perfidious

2 adj · sexually unfaithful to a... unfaithfuladulterous

3 adj · lacking religious faith or... unbelieving irreligious

Opposites

faithful loyal trustworthy devout

Word family

Derived forms faithlesslyfaithlessness

Related forms faith infidelity betrayal

Etymology

From Middle English feithles, formed from faith + -less. The suffix means "without" or "lacking," so the word developed both the religious sense "without faith" and the social sense "not keeping faith with another person."

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# faithless

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈfeɪθləs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈfeɪθləs/
**Frequency rank:** 29561

## Meanings
1. disloyal, unreliable, or unworthy of trust
2. sexually unfaithful to a spouse or partner
3. lacking religious faith or belief

## Examples
- The ruler surrounded himself with faithless advisers who deserted him in the crisis.
- The play centers on a faithless husband and the consequences of his deception.
- The preacher condemned the age as faithless, though many listeners disagreed.

## Synonyms
- disloyal
- treacherous
- untrustworthy
- unfaithful
- perfidious

## Antonyms
- faithful
- loyal
- trustworthy
- devout

## Derived Forms
- faithlessly
- faithlessness

## Related Forms
- faith
- infidelity
- betrayal

## Etymology
From Middle English feithles, formed from faith + -less. The suffix means "without" or "lacking," so the word developed both the religious sense "without faith" and the social sense "not keeping faith with another person."

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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