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
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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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Recent Examples of backstabbing
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
The backstabbing gives the show its spiky, durable spine—but its belief in individual people’s potential, its love of adventure, its obsession with redemption, reclamation, and rebirth?
—David Canfield, Vanity Fair, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backstabbing
Noun
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
The backstabbing gives the show its spiky, durable spine—but its belief in individual people’s potential, its love of adventure, its obsession with redemption, reclamation, and rebirth?
—David Canfield, Vanity Fair, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backstabbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstabbing
Noun
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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
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But Bateman's treachery also had a distinctly silly side.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Thus, the curse was passed to the Harkins and the Witness was punished with immortality for betraying Death's bargain.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
26 Mar. 2026
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To be fair, Titus betraying his sister does ultimately lead to his downfall, even if Ursula isn’t around to see it.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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SoulCycle, Flywheel, Peloton — the billion-dollar boutique fitness revolution built on ambition, betrayal and toxic sweat.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
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To do so—and this book is my attempt—would not, could not constitute a betrayal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backstabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstabbing. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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