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betray

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of betray

1 to be unfaithful or disloyal to

  • childhood friends of movie stars often betray them by telling their secrets to the supermarket tabloids
Synonyms of betray

backstab, cross, double-cross, sell (out), two-time
Words Related to betray

give away

inform (on), peach, rat (on), shop [British], snitch (on), split (on) [British], tell (on), turn in
Phrases Synonymous with betray

go back on, sell down the river, stab in the back
Near Antonyms of betray

defend, guard, protect, safeguard, save, shield
Antonyms of betray

stand by

2 to make known (something abstract) through outward signs

  • his face betrayed his exasperation with his nosy neighbor
Synonyms of betray

bespeak, communicate, declare, demonstrate, display, evince, expose, give away, manifest, reveal, show
Words Related to betray

bare, disclose, unbosom, uncloak, uncover

advertise, air, announce, blaze, broadcast, placard, proclaim, publicize, sound, trumpet

project
Near Antonyms of betray

belie, misrepresent

distort, falsify, garble, twist

camouflage, disguise

gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash

conceal, counterfeit, cover, hide, mask, obscure, occlude, veil

3 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
Synonyms of betray

allure, bait, beguile, decoy, entice, lead on, lure, seduce, solicit, tempt
Words Related to betray

draw in, inveigle, persuade, rope (in), snow

catch, enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, entrap, mesh, snare, tangle, trap

bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate, magnetize, wile
Near Antonyms of betray

alert, caution, forewarn, ward (off), warn

drive (away or off), repulse, turn away

Synonym Discussion of betray

reveal, disclose, divulge, tell, betray mean to make known what has been or should be concealed. 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
disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.
    • candidates must disclose their financial assets
divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.
    • refused to divulge an anonymous source
tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.
    • told them what he had overheard
betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.
    • a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

Learn More about betray

  1. See words that rhyme with betray Dictionary: Definition of betray Spanish Central: Translation of betray Nglish: Translation of betray for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of betray for Arabic speakers

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