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
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for backstabbing
Noun
The lying, backstabbing and manipulation the game inspires does indeed make for delightful TV viewing.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2026
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
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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The West is betraying 'liberal values' for a genocidal fascist foreign government.—
Anhelina Shamlii,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
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But since then the process of identifying a new vendor and signing a contract has been painfully slow, betraying the mayor’s lack of urgency.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Noun
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When his former lover returns under the pretense of old affection and his wife edges toward betrayal, Owen resolves to write, direct, and star in a new production of his own.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 May 2026
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Paz and Renee open the cages and free the creatures, thanks to the betrayal of security chief Hank (Eric Edelstein).—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backstabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstabbing. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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