1
as in crossed
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 revealed
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 tempted
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of betrayed
Different tragedies, but the same grief for a community betrayed by the people who were supposed to protect and serve.
—
Jennifer Brooks, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
They were eventually betrayed, arrested and sent to the Auschwitz death camp.
—Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The innkeeper is also reckoning with his involvement in a murder during WWII, and how it is reflected in a manuscript about someone betrayed by Enomoto.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
In the ballad, the hero is betrayed by his cousin, who bleeds him too severely while administering a blood-letting cure.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
When asked about that criticism, McFadden said staffers betrayed him.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026
They were eventually betrayed, arrested and sent to the Auschwitz death camp.
—CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
The Schloss family was betrayed and sent to concentration camps in 1944.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Many Espanyol fans felt betrayed by Garcia’s decision to leave.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
Jennifer Brooks, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
They were eventually betrayed, arrested and sent to the Auschwitz death camp.
—Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The innkeeper is also reckoning with his involvement in a murder during WWII, and how it is reflected in a manuscript about someone betrayed by Enomoto.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
In the ballad, the hero is betrayed by his cousin, who bleeds him too severely while administering a blood-letting cure.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
When asked about that criticism, McFadden said staffers betrayed him.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026
They were eventually betrayed, arrested and sent to the Auschwitz death camp.
—CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
The Schloss family was betrayed and sent to concentration camps in 1944.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Many Espanyol fans felt betrayed by Garcia’s decision to leave.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betrayed
Verb
-
O’Neill was a loyal Democrat but crossed the aisle to work with Republicans like Ronald Reagan.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
However, there is no evidence that the two have ever crossed paths.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Newsom further revealed the limits of his rationality with his remarks on the high-speed rail boondoggle.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Researchers revealed that one of the key factors that enabled Despotopulos and his team to make these first-ever experimental measurements was access to the world’s highest-energy laser system, located at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (NIF).—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As temperatures around the state continue to drop, you may be tempted to crank up your thermostat to battle the cold.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
That way, you aren’t tempted to doze on the couch or adult bed with the baby in your arms.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In Play Dirty, Wahlberg stars a career criminal named Parker, who’s double-crossed by a member of his team after a robbery.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The Iranians didn’t, however, get to escape with the bearings that would help kick off their nuclear program because the show’s protagonist, Ben Edwards (played by Taylor Kitsch), and the surviving espionage members of Haverford’s team found out that their leader had double-crossed them.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Anna and Jack put the pieces together that all three crimes are connected by the disturbing messages displayed on their deceased bodies, as well as the same friendship bracelet attached to each victim.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Citizens of Minneapolis took to the streets, throwing snowballs at their own local police and local businesses proudly displayed signs in their windows instructing people how to use whistles to thwart ICE.—
David Marcus,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Released in 1994, Sátántangó (based on László Krasznahorka’s novel) chronicled an impoverished Hungarian village that becomes seduced by a would-be prophet who has seemingly come back from the dead.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
6 Jan. 2026
-
This year, we were seduced by silver trays and a new take on the TV-dinner table.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Cellphone data showed Fuentes was at the crash site, immediately went home and then returned in a different car within 20 minutes, the affidavit said.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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Videos of the shooting in Minnesota showed federal agents approaching Good’s SUV stopped in the middle of a neighborhood street.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Neuralink recently lured a top official away from the Food and Drug Administration office that regulates the company, a poaching that has surprised, impressed, and infuriated its competitors in a fledgling industry developing brain-computer interfaces.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
5 Jan. 2026
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Based on Diana Gabaldon’s book series, Outlander has lured audiences with its sweeping historical fantasy and once-in-a-lifetime(s) love story.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Betrayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betrayed. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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