as in to betray
to be unfaithful or disloyal to
knew what it felt like to be backstabbed by a so-called friend
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Recent Examples of backstab
Set in the 1980s, when Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles novels were first released, Rivals is a tongue-in-cheek period drama about the cutthroat world of regional-television franchises, whose characters backstab and smoke and screw with relish.
—
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Of the 24 cast members who make up Survivor 50, there are plenty whose skills set them up as a huge threat, either for their strategic minds, their willingness to backstab, or their likeability factor.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026
One of them tried to backstab the hero, the other one helped raise the terrible, evil god that the hero had to defeat.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2025
Friends can lie, colleagues can backstab, anyone can die in any number of brutal ways.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Many of the women are status-obsessed and needy, quick to backstab other women to reach the top.
—Literary Hub
june 21, Literary Hub, 21 June 2023
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Of the 24 cast members who make up Survivor 50, there are plenty whose skills set them up as a huge threat, either for their strategic minds, their willingness to backstab, or their likeability factor.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026
One of them tried to backstab the hero, the other one helped raise the terrible, evil god that the hero had to defeat.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2025
Friends can lie, colleagues can backstab, anyone can die in any number of brutal ways.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
Many of the women are status-obsessed and needy, quick to backstab other women to reach the top.
—Literary Hub
june 21, Literary Hub, 21 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstab
betray
Verb
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The anxiety that expanding representation will displace Lincoln or Washington betrays a curious fragility.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
-
From Morgan’s perspective, she feels betrayed by the fact that Nicky left her in the house as a kid to go to seminary school.—
Carita Rizzo,
Deadline,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backstab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstab. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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