betray

Tweet

verb

Definition of BETRAY

1

to be unfaithful or disloyal to <childhood friends of movie stars often betray them by telling their secrets to the supermarket tabloids>

Synonyms backstab, cross, double-cross, sell (out), two-time

Related Words give away; inform (on), peach, rat (on), shop [British], snitch (on), split (on) [British], tell (on), turn in

Phrases go back on, sell down the river, stab in the back

Near Antonyms defend, guard, protect, safeguard, save, shield

Antonyms stand by

2

to make known (something abstract) through outward signs <his face betrayed his exasperation with his nosy neighbor>

Synonyms bespeak, betray, communicate, declare, demonstrate, display, evince, expose, give away, manifest, reveal

Related Words bare, disclose, unbosom, uncloak, uncover; advertise, air, announce, blaze, broadcast, placard, proclaim, publicize, sound, trumpet; project

Near Antonyms belie, misrepresent; distort, falsify, garble, twist; camouflage, disguise; gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash; conceal, counterfeit, cover, hide, mask, obscure, occlude, veil

3

to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage <she was betrayed by a false show of friendship into covering up the crime>

Synonyms allure, bait, beguile, betray, decoy, entice, lead on, seduce, solicit, tempt

Related Words draw in, inveigle, persuade, rope (in), snow; catch, enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, entrap, mesh, snare, tangle, trap; bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate, magnetize, wile

Near Antonyms alert, caution, forewarn, ward (off), warn; drive (away or off), repulse, turn away