betray

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

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb betray differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of betray are disclose, divulge, reveal, and tell. While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

When is it sensible to use disclose instead of betray?

Although the words disclose and betray have much in common, disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

When can divulge be used instead of betray?

While the synonyms divulge and betray are close in meaning, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

When could reveal be used to replace betray?

While in some cases nearly identical to betray, reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

In what contexts can tell take the place of betray?

The words tell and betray are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of betray And what the project means by the term—turning the Department of Energy into a handmaiden of the coal, oil and natural gas industry—betrays not only the taxpayer but science itself. Megha Satyanarayana, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2025 But changes shoehorned by committee members have angered the Sacramento-area state senator who authored the bill, saying the new-look legislation betrays her constituents and the two young men for whom the bill is named. Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2025 None of the other 11 disciples had a clue that Judas was planning to betray Jesus. Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2025 After showing up, fighting for others, we were betrayed at the polls. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for betray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betray
Verb
  • Add to that a greater reluctance by those in the public and private sectors to cross Trump, wary of putting themselves and their organizations in the crosshairs of his administration.
    Mark K. Updegrove, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
  • There's a callback to that scene late in the film when the knights must answer three questions to cross the Bridge of Death or else be chucked into the Gorge of Eternal Peril.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Belichick-Hudson interview reveals North Carolina may be headed for train wreck | Opinion Don’t let this ruin your beach trip!
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • By month’s end, the right path should reveal itself.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • If that’s not enough to tempt you, the set also comes with an insulated wine bag, an insulated cooler (which fits nicely in the basket), two food containers, and a fleece blanket.
    Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2025
  • You may be tempted to cry into your beer over all of the recent problems with the economy and the rising prices of … well, everything.
    Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The museum’s Vietnam Gallery displays Mills’ uniform, flight helmet and medals.
    Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2025
  • The soon-to-be 23-year-old displayed impressive contact balance and routinely churned out additional yards after being hit, but his workload in college (879 carries in five years) raises questions about his long-term outlook in the NFL. 191.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After turning undead and hiding her bite wound, Mary easily gets permission to re-enter the building, and quickly seduces Stack, before murdering him and infecting him with the vampire curse.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But the next pope may be seduced by that glitter again.
    Howard Chua-Eoan, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • His prominent role in Game 3 -- which was a big reason the Knicks' offensive rating jumped to 120.8 from 101.9 in Game 2 -- showed that coach Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks have learned their lesson about keeping Towns involved in the offense.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
  • An online database that tracks ship movements shows the Mohawk has been docked in its home port since mid-March.
    CBS News, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But before the divorce took effect, a pro-Kremlin group persuaded the Russian state prosecutor’s office to investigate Smolny’s ties to Soros, whose NGOs had been outlawed in the country.
    Anastasiia Vorozhtsova, The Atlantic, 2 May 2025
  • Samson is sent to Berlin to bring out a double agent, then to Mexico to try to persuade a KGB major to defect, using his childhood friend's wife as bait.
    Paul Vidich, People.com, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • This is the second view of political leadership: double-cross, cheat, bully, cajole, break the conventions and rules – do whatever works!
    John Nemec, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025
  • These are the women who seduce (or are seduced by) Bond, assist in his missions, and/or double-cross him.
    EW.com, EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Betray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betray. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

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