1
as in crosses
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 reveals
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 tempts
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 betrays
Taylor owns the first third of the film with a righteous fury that only betrays an inner vulnerability at the most crucial moments.
—
Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Such a blatant falsehood making it to the press conference betrays the fact that there is no limit to how false something has to be in order for this administration to resist propagating it.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
Netflix After Jake betrays Vince by tricking him into revealing his whereabouts to Mancuso and his lackey Babbitt (Chris Coy) to protect Vince's daughter Gen (Odessa Young) and get her to safety, Jake rushes to help Vince once again escape a vengeful Mancuso's clutches.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
China consistently betrays these principles, of course.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Surely, the look suggests, my choice betrays a Freudian complex best left uninterrogated.
—Sam Sussman
september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
At under $16, toss it in your bag now and thank yourself the next time your battery betrays you.
—PC Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
On cosmic scales, dark matter betrays its presence via its gravity.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
The feel of the game betrays the development team’s excellent Super Mario Odyssey pedigree.
—Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Such a blatant falsehood making it to the press conference betrays the fact that there is no limit to how false something has to be in order for this administration to resist propagating it.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
Netflix After Jake betrays Vince by tricking him into revealing his whereabouts to Mancuso and his lackey Babbitt (Chris Coy) to protect Vince's daughter Gen (Odessa Young) and get her to safety, Jake rushes to help Vince once again escape a vengeful Mancuso's clutches.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
China consistently betrays these principles, of course.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Surely, the look suggests, my choice betrays a Freudian complex best left uninterrogated.
—Sam Sussman
september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
At under $16, toss it in your bag now and thank yourself the next time your battery betrays you.
—PC Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
On cosmic scales, dark matter betrays its presence via its gravity.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
The feel of the game betrays the development team’s excellent Super Mario Odyssey pedigree.
—Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betrays
Verb
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Every network and station has made tough calls when on-air conduct crosses a line.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
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After finishing as a luxury tax team in each of the past two seasons, the Heat wants to stay out of the luxury tax this season in order to avoid the onerous repeater tax that’s triggered when a team crosses the luxury-tax threshold in four straight seasons or four times during a five-season period.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The 2025 State of the World’s Girls report by global NGO Plan International reveals how these relationships leave girls vulnerable for the rest of their lives.—
Carlotta Dotto,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
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Bersten, 31, reveals he’s been pleased with the Dynasty actress’s work ethic in rehearsal despite the injuries plaguing her.—
Latoya Gayle,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Unwind Along the Coast Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa, tempts with spice tours, rooftop cocktails, and sunset dhow sails.—
Karin Jones,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Sep. 2025
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The device contains, among other things, doorways to other dimensions, including one that tempts Peacemaker with a seemingly storybook version of his broken family.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Businesses are finding that people enjoy planning Halloween displays well ahead of the holiday.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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Entries for its 2025 Annual National Gingerbread House Competition are now being accepted, after it the event was canceled last year — though the inn put gingerbread displays all around Asheville instead.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Everything about the scene seduces the viewer into what dining while traveling in the most luxurious fashion could be, and once was.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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In his youth, the blue-eyed Stamp was widely considered one of the most handsome men onscreen, and Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini used that to peculiar effect in Teorema (1968), casting the actor as a nameless and wordless visitor who seduces an entire household.—
Rhett Bartlett,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Two no-trump shows some interest in game and asks about partner's second suit as well as his strength.—
Deb Harvell,
Arkansas Online,
28 Sep. 2025
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Video from the scene shows dark billowing smoke rising into the air and multiple firetrucks working to extinguish the fire.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The poet titillates, commands by images—and only thus persuades.—
Elaine L. Wang
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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Cherry persuades Harriet to publicly expose Laura, to talk to journalists and manufacture a viral story.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kinethreads demonstrates that high-quality haptics no longer need to be locked behind expensive, rigid exoskeletons.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
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In this era, as the rest of the postseason field demonstrates, that makes Milwaukee one of the exceptions to the rule.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Betrays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betrays. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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