Synonyms

quisling

American

[kwiz-ling] / ˈkwɪz lɪŋ /

noun

a person who betrays their own country by aiding an invading enemy, often serving later in a puppet government; fifth columnist.

quisling British

/ ˈkwɪzlɪŋ /

noun

a traitor who aids an occupying enemy force; collaborator

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of quisling

1940; after Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945), pro-Nazi Norwegian leader

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A bunch of quisling Republicans kowtowing to their aging fascist leader may seem less scary in comparison.

From Salon

His low-key quisling turn was entirely in character, and not nearly enough to explain the media’s collective sense of betrayal.

From Salon

Lunsford contended that by referring to him as a “quisling,” Lewin had likened him to a “Nazi collaborator,” according to the letter.

From Los Angeles Times

Will they defend democracy or instead surrender and be collaborators and quislings?

From Salon

It's ironic because Chait was one of the loudest quisling voices freaking out over hypothetical backlash when District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted Trump on these charges in April 2023.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023