turncoat
noun
turn·coat
ˈtərn-ˌkōt 
: one who switches to an opposing side or party
specifically
: traitor
Synonyms
Examples of turncoat in a Sentence
the plot of the story revolved around the gangster's relentless determination to learn the identity of the turncoat
Recent Examples on the Web
Historically, the San Patricios, led by Irish native John Riley, have been valorized as unsung heroes and criticized as turncoats.
—
Sarah Quiñones Wolfson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2024
Every member expelled in history of this institution has been convicted of crimes or confederate turncoats guilty of treason.
—ABC News, 3 Dec. 2023
The Jalisco cartel, known by its initials as the CJNG, is famous for its ruthless treatment of supposed traitors, informants or turncoats.
—Mark Stevenson, Anchorage Daily News, 7 June 2023
Hanssen faced the death penalty when he was arrested thanks to another turncoat.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 5 June 2023
There’s a turncoat in MI6 who’s out to expose the Charter.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 11 Aug. 2023
Advertisement In the severity of his betrayal, Mr. Hanssen was compared to Aldrich H. Ames, the CIA turncoat who pleaded guilty to espionage and other charges in 1994.
—Adam Bernstein, Washington Post, 5 June 2023
Revelations of a possible turncoat inside the country’s spy service have coincided with a major political shift in Germany since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, with the German government dropping its long-standing conciliatory policy toward Moscow.
—Marie Brockling, NBC News, 29 Jan. 2023
Will there be a turncoat—Mark Meadows, perhaps?—to provide revelations from inside Trump’s fevered quest to stay in office after the voters had spoken?
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 20 July 2023
Sarah Quiñones Wolfson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2024
Every member expelled in history of this institution has been convicted of crimes or confederate turncoats guilty of treason.
—ABC News, 3 Dec. 2023
The Jalisco cartel, known by its initials as the CJNG, is famous for its ruthless treatment of supposed traitors, informants or turncoats.
—Mark Stevenson, Anchorage Daily News, 7 June 2023
Hanssen faced the death penalty when he was arrested thanks to another turncoat.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 5 June 2023
There’s a turncoat in MI6 who’s out to expose the Charter.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 11 Aug. 2023
Advertisement In the severity of his betrayal, Mr. Hanssen was compared to Aldrich H. Ames, the CIA turncoat who pleaded guilty to espionage and other charges in 1994.
—Adam Bernstein, Washington Post, 5 June 2023
Revelations of a possible turncoat inside the country’s spy service have coincided with a major political shift in Germany since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, with the German government dropping its long-standing conciliatory policy toward Moscow.
—Marie Brockling, NBC News, 29 Jan. 2023
Will there be a turncoat—Mark Meadows, perhaps?—to provide revelations from inside Trump’s fevered quest to stay in office after the voters had spoken?
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 20 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turncoat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Turncoat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turncoat. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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turncoat
noun
turn·coat
ˈtərn-ˌkōt
: a person on one side who goes over to the other
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