1
as in to cross
to be unfaithful or disloyal to
childhood friends of movie stars often betray them by telling their secrets to the supermarket tabloids
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reveal
to make known (something abstract) through outward signs
his face betrayed his exasperation with his nosy neighbor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to tempt
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage
she was betrayed by a false show of friendship into covering up the crime
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of betray
Much like Catastrophe, Derry Girls combines irreverent farce with weightier issues that sometimes take you by surprise but never betray the series’ light-hearted metier.
—
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
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
Yet Trump’s aspirations betray where the US might think its war is headed.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for betray
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
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
Yet Trump’s aspirations betray where the US might think its war is headed.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for betray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betray
Verb
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That district also crosses county lines — into Corona, Chino Hills and other parts of western Riverside and San Bernardino counties.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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As a result, millions upon millions crossed the border attracted by higher wages and better infrastructure, including hospitals, roads, sewers, clean water, schools for their children and other social services at the state or municipal level.—
Doug McIntyre,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The result revealed a surprising pattern—superconductivity appeared and strengthened over a specific range of conditions, forming a curved region known as a superconducting dome.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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While Luis and the boys wore their DC United jerseys and scarves, Silvia unzipped her coat to reveal a pink Messi jersey.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some in the West will be tempted to see this as the generals’ chickens coming home to roost.—
Mihir Sharma,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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Caregivers may be tempted to let kids win or even cheat to avoid meltdowns and tantrums.—
Stephanie Ganz,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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California’s deserts are bursting with color as strong wildflower displays sprout across the fields of Southern California.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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During the alleged robbery, a masked man allegedly entered the store, displayed a handgun and demanded money from the store employee, police said.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bale has the more interesting role as the youth who at first chooses Hitler out of expedience, but then becomes seduced by power and status.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
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Waugh walks around with a newfound swagger, playing hooky, drinking heavily, even seducing a woman at his local.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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The results showed that women eventually diagnosed with either of these two conditions — 849 with mild cognitive impairment and 752 with dementia — had larger amounts of p-tau217 in their initial blood sample way back in the mid-to-late 1990s.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
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Phillip Hayes, the attorney for Song, said there is evidence that shows the bullet that struck Lt.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While working there, Anderson persuaded Burkle to provide him with $100,000 in seed capital to launch his lobbying firm Platinum Advisors, according to the complaint filed by Burkle’s company.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Wellington said the victim was persuaded to convert assets into gold and provided it to individuals who posed as couriers.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Betray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betray. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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