Machiavellian characteristic of speech breaking friendship (9)
I believe the answer is:
amorality
'machiavellian characteristic' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'speech breaking friendship' is the wordplay.
'speech' becomes 'oral' (oral means relating to speech).
'breaking' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'friendship' becomes 'amity' (I've seen this in other clues).
'oral' going within 'amity' is 'AMORALITY'.
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for amorality that I've seen before include "Position that's not ethical" , "Lack of a sense of right and wrong" , "Lack of principles" .)