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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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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After Thomas Hickey was hanged that year for mutiny, sedition and treachery, Washington warned that his fate should serve as a caution to all soldiers.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
-
With their leader detained, El Mayo’s sicarios, or hit men, declared war against supporters of Chapo’s sons in an attempt to exact vengeance for the treachery and strengthen their own position in the wider organization.—
Daniel DePetris,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Al Olszewski, a former state senator who is running for Zinke's seat, accused both Daines and Zinke of betraying the people of Montana and urged voters to reject their handpicked successors.—
MATTHEW BROWN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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Al Olszewski, a former state senator who is running for Zinke’s seat, accused Daines and Zinke of betraying the people of Montana and urged voters to reject their handpicked successors.—
Matthew Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The reality star's betrayal cost him a pretty penny in the end.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
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To ventriloquize one’s parent is a bold move, and fictitious Barbara would absolutely read it as a betrayal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backstabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstabbing. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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