1
as in crossing
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 revealing
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 seducing
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 betraying
In effect, by criticizing the lower courts, a handful of Supreme Court justices are coming dangerously close to betraying, rather than protecting, the rule of law.
—
Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
The ponyatiya of Putin’s youth generally meant never betraying your gang and always standing up for your friends.
—Andrew Ryvkin, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2025
In these seasons, the archetypes provide a narrative lens not only for audiences but for the players to see themselves in the game—what’s the social cost of betraying their family?
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
In addition to betraying the spirit of America’s founding, the Biden mandate invited bipartisan, bicameral opposition.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
The first book ends with James betraying Ruby following the death of his mother, but the TV series’ creative team decided to end slightly earlier than that, preserving a quasi-happy ending should a Season 2 never come to pass.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
In the second season, which has just started production, Knightley’s Helen is still betraying her nation’s secrets to the Black Doves.
—Peter White, Deadline, 18 Nov. 2025
For the most part, however, the Stranger waltzes around in plain sight, adopting the form of an androgynous teen — their scarred face betraying the wounds of Heaven’s rejection — who baits the Boy into indulging his darkest impulses.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 Nov. 2025
Even with this diversity, converts to Islam are sometimes accused of betraying their culture.
—Ken Chitwood, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
The ponyatiya of Putin’s youth generally meant never betraying your gang and always standing up for your friends.
—Andrew Ryvkin, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2025
In these seasons, the archetypes provide a narrative lens not only for audiences but for the players to see themselves in the game—what’s the social cost of betraying their family?
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
In addition to betraying the spirit of America’s founding, the Biden mandate invited bipartisan, bicameral opposition.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
The first book ends with James betraying Ruby following the death of his mother, but the TV series’ creative team decided to end slightly earlier than that, preserving a quasi-happy ending should a Season 2 never come to pass.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
In the second season, which has just started production, Knightley’s Helen is still betraying her nation’s secrets to the Black Doves.
—Peter White, Deadline, 18 Nov. 2025
For the most part, however, the Stranger waltzes around in plain sight, adopting the form of an androgynous teen — their scarred face betraying the wounds of Heaven’s rejection — who baits the Boy into indulging his darkest impulses.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 Nov. 2025
Even with this diversity, converts to Islam are sometimes accused of betraying their culture.
—Ken Chitwood, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betraying
Verb
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His physical traits make life difficult for crossing receivers and tight ends in the pass game, while his instincts lead to massive collisions in the run game that led to him missing just two tackles all season (both in the team’s Cotton Bowl playoff loss to Miami at AT&T Stadium).—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Jan. 2026
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That benefit is key considering passenger vehicles crossing the border between Tijuana and San Diego faced average wait times of one-and-a-half to two hours, according to a 2022 report from officials.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At my feet, the pale folds of cloth gradually came apart, revealing two half-open eyes, surrounded by curly hair, which, tossed by the turbulence, looked strangely alive.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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Videos making their way past Iran’s internet blackout circulated over the weekend, revealing harrowing scenes from earlier in the week.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In Arthur Penn’s 1975 neo-noir Night Moves, Griffith is Delly Grastner, a 16-year-old runaway with a little girl’s voice and a grown woman’s body—on full display in an underwater nude scene—intent on seducing Gene Hackman, 43 and paunchy.—
Lili Anolik,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
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The video featured a tired Madonna running into a mysterious man and woman in a hotel hallway, with the two seducing the singer into a night together, done as a tribute to the 1963 French film Bay of Angels, which starred Jeanne Moreau.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This can be as simple as displaying your kids' art on the fridge or as involved as involving your partner in paint choices.—
Tessa Cooper,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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Baker immediately objected and said displaying the files and suggesting jurors would later receive them was improper unless their relevance to the defendants’ state of mind had first been established.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Choosing safer plants, securing the tree and keeping tempting items out of reach can help ensure the season stays festive for everyone, including the four-legged members of the family.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Dec. 2025
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Fill your plate with healthier fare such as raw vegetables, shrimp cocktail and fresh fruit so there's less room for the higher-calorie dishes that are tempting you.—
Bethany Thayer,
Freep.com,
29 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Flender's post featured a television screen showing Kate Hudson announcing Chalamet's victory during the awards show.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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Goodfellas is showing a promo-reel for the feature which is currently in post-production and aiming for a late spring-early summer festival debut.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The archiving, and the exhibits that sometimes result, serve the dual purpose of not just saving the materials but also luring people back to Modulightor.—
Anthony Paletta,
Curbed,
13 Jan. 2026
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In many cases, a school's financial resources became more important to luring talent than its on-field tradition.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The first marches took place in downtown Tehran, with participants demonstrating against rising inflation and the falling value of the national currency, the rial.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2026
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The situation escalates when Ravi is killed on Choudhary’s orders, demonstrating the vulnerability of the team and placing greater pressure on Meena to act decisively.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Betraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betraying. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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