as in treachery
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another
a reality TV show that seems to have raised backstabbing to an art form
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in betraying
to be unfaithful or disloyal to
knew what it felt like to be backstabbed by a so-called friend
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backstabbing
Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
This 2000s teen drama delivers relationship drama, backstabbing, layered characters, and an ominous anonymous blogger chronicling all of it.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
But the hardest part of the novel wasn’t scripting the scheming, backstabbing, or duplicitous behavior.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Play Now Toni’s blasé egotism is mostly consistent across a film filled with conspiracy, backstabbing, and political fallout.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backstabbing
Noun
This 2000s teen drama has relationship drama, backstabbing, layered characters, and an ominous blogger to chronicle it all.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
This 2000s teen drama delivers relationship drama, backstabbing, layered characters, and an ominous anonymous blogger chronicling all of it.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
But the hardest part of the novel wasn’t scripting the scheming, backstabbing, or duplicitous behavior.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Play Now Toni’s blasé egotism is mostly consistent across a film filled with conspiracy, backstabbing, and political fallout.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backstabbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstabbing
Noun
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Upon learning of Ava’s treachery, Deborah HOWLS.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
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Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Fans of Summer House have been eager to find out whether Batula and Wilson would take accountability at the reunion for betraying Miller.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2026
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The go-to resource for mapping out those periods is the app EskomSePush (the name of which is a cheeky double entendre in Afrikkans, betraying the public annoyance).—
Abbey Hudetz,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Our Extraordinary Summer by Lori Wilde Estranged sisters Calista and Athena Dempsey are forced to reunite on Hobby Island after their mother’s death, confronting old betrayals and unhealed wounds.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
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Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, an umbrella organization for the local unions, quickly criticized the bill as a betrayal of working-class Floridians.—
Jeffrey S. Solochek,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backstabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstabbing. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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