adjective
untrue
Not loyal to a person or commitment.
He is untrue to his wife and hides the affair.
Etymology
True originally included faithfulness and reliability. Untrue preserves that loyalty sense in describing betrayal of a person or commitment.
More examples
- She refuses to be untrue to her oldest friends.
- Accepting the bribe would make him untrue to his principles.
- He feels untrue to his team when he supports their rivals.
Forms
untrue · untruer · untruest
Similar words
- disloyal
- Emphasizes betrayal of a person, group, or cause.
- unfaithful
- Often refers specifically to cheating on a romantic partner.