double-cross

1 of 2

verb

dou·​ble-cross ˌdə-bəl-ˈkrȯs How to pronounce double-cross (audio)
double-crossed; double-crossing; double-crosses

transitive verb

: to deceive by double-dealing : betray
double-crosser noun

double cross

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: an act of winning or trying to win a fight or match after agreeing to lose it
b
: an act of betraying or cheating an associate
2
: a cross between first-generation hybrids of four separate inbred lines (as in the production of hybrid seed corn)

Examples of double-cross in a Sentence

Noun politics is full of double crosses and backbiting
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Breathing fire Angry, vengeful, paranoid, a remorseless bully: These are trademark Carollo traits, according to city employees, two of his daughters, citizens who have argued with him and former allies double-crossed by him. Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2023 Emily went straight to Kaleb, explaining the double-cross was on. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Oct. 2023 Alexander Skarsgård played something like an agent of chaos in the midst, making each of the Roy siblings doubt themselves and double-cross one another. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2024 There are no shocks in Culprits, as every ostensible reveal, every double-cross, every seemingly dead character proving to still be alive drew a shrug from me. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Dec. 2023 The Remmo defense team had apparently pulled off a brilliant double-cross by milking a loophole in the law. Jesse Hyde, Town & Country, 16 Aug. 2023 Photo: Benjamin Girette/Bloomberg News A federal judge in New York declined to throw out fraud charges against a former Allianz fund manager who claimed he was double-crossed by his lawyers, citing the terms of a joint defense agreement the executive entered into with the firm’s counsel. Dylan Tokar, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2023 Agents recorded conversations as Rodriguez told Castle of his fears that one of their associates would double-cross them and spill secrets about Ramirez's murder to police. Beth Warren, The Courier-Journal, 17 Aug. 2023 The base version of the trading and building game is always a great time for up to four players — at least until your sister hordes all the sheep just to get back at you for that tiny little double-cross that really wasn’t all that bad. Antonio G. Di Benedetto, The Verge, 14 July 2023
Noun
When Josue double crosses his employers, he is executed for his betrayal. Scott Phillips, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 In his two decades as a professional drug snitch, Jorge Hernández was a master of the double cross. Byjoshua Goodman, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2023 Which leaves Vic to double cross his sister by turning her in to police. Breanna Bell, Variety, 30 Sep. 2023 Cash's double cross backfired on him. Shannon Carlin, refinery29.com, 7 June 2020 Lacy wore a double cross tuxedo pinned with a rhinestone and pearl shield brooch, knife-sharp boots, and oversized bug-like sunglasses while holding the brand's glossy Manhattan clutch against his chest like a priest holds a bible. Tara Gonzalez, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Feb. 2023 Fleiss’s ascendance was built on a double cross, and within a few years of her rise, an old foe would orchestrate a series of events that turned her into the target of a sting operation and the subject of a national media circus. Vulture, 14 Apr. 2022 Armand says they are done with Thony, but after Fiona's deportation and Nadia's double cross, Thony and Armand end the season working together to keep the pipeline open and bring Fiona back. Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2022 The proposition sets up one of the major tensions of the final season with Michael vowing from the beginning to double cross Tommy and kill him—avenging Polly’s death. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 11 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'double-cross.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1903, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of double-cross was in 1834

Dictionary Entries Near double-cross

double cross

double-cross

Double-Crostic

Cite this Entry

“Double-cross.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double-cross. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

double cross

noun
: an act of betraying or cheating especially an associate
double-cross
ˌdəb-əl-ˈkrȯs
verb
double-crosser noun

More from Merriam-Webster on double-cross

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