Learn English – a word that means “someone who pretends to be your friend but is actually your enethe?”

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What do you call someone who pretends to be your friend but is actually your enemy?

A friend suggested spy for me, but that does not nearly describe the word I need for an English project. The character is very good at manipulating how people see him. He's a good liar. And pretends to be your friend but actually is your enemy.

Best Answer

After you discover how he has turned on you, you might call him:

  • a false friend [not to be confused with the linguistic term of the same name]:
    not faithful or loyal : treacherous <a false friend> (m-w.com "false", def. 4a)
  • a traitor:
    one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty (m-w.com def 1)
  • a backstabber:
    [one who engages in] betrayal (as by a verbal attack against one not present) especially by a false friend (m-w.com def. 1)
  • a double-crosser:
    to cheat or deceive (someone) especially by doing something that is different from what you said you would do (m-w.com def. 1)
  • a two-timer:
    1: a double-crosser
    2: one who betrays (a spouse or lover) by secret lovemaking with another (m-w.com)

  • disloyal:
    failing to support or be true to someone or something : not loyal or faithful to your friends, family, country, etc. (m-w.com)

  • perfidious:
    not able to be trusted : showing that someone cannot be trusted : characterized by perfidy (the act of betraying someone or something : the state of not being loyal) (m-w.com)

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