as in to happen
to take place
we will be happy in our new home, whatever may betide
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Recent Examples of betide
Yet woe betide any of the sport’s experts who dare to suggest the dice may be even slightly loaded in India’s favour.
—
Paul Newman, New York Times, 18 June 2025
And woe betide the poor educator who, without first warning their students’ parents, makes a spontaneous remark that might offend someone’s religious beliefs.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 15 Apr. 2025
Woe betide anyone who bumps into Pansy on the street, but to watch her onscreen produces a kind of bruised exhilaration; her viciousness has an awesome life force.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2025
Disney recommends paying between 18% and 20% for service and woe betide anyone who tries to avoid that charge.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Woe betide the ally who runs afoul of American progressive opinion.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 29 Mar. 2023
Critics have been sent the season’s first four episodes, but woe betide anybody who spoils much of anything about this run of backstabbing adventures in the realm of excess.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023
Paul Newman, New York Times, 18 June 2025
And woe betide the poor educator who, without first warning their students’ parents, makes a spontaneous remark that might offend someone’s religious beliefs.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 15 Apr. 2025
Woe betide anyone who bumps into Pansy on the street, but to watch her onscreen produces a kind of bruised exhilaration; her viciousness has an awesome life force.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2025
Disney recommends paying between 18% and 20% for service and woe betide anyone who tries to avoid that charge.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Woe betide the ally who runs afoul of American progressive opinion.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 29 Mar. 2023
Critics have been sent the season’s first four episodes, but woe betide anybody who spoils much of anything about this run of backstabbing adventures in the realm of excess.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betide
happen
Verb
-
The violence captured on cellphone videos and shared around the globe – buses burning, gas stations attacked, military helicopters flying overhead – wasn’t just happening in remote rural towns long plagued by drug violence.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The food and drink As with most of the smaller Parisian hotels, all the food and drink action happens in the same place—the property’s entrance is designed to be a comfortable lounge, bar, and breakfast area.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Betide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betide. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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