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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of betrays
But the plot also retains a serial quality that saps momentum and betrays its TV roots.
—
Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Don’t skip eye cream The under-eye area is often the first place that betrays a late night or an early alarm.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Sometimes a small chink in your camouflage betrays you to a wary tom.
—Bruce Brady, Outdoor Life, 8 Apr. 2026
After Sugar betrays her, Barbara cuts her friend off for decades, despite missing her deeply.
—Isle McElroy, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
But even this was a poor comparison for sumo’s place in the racial politics of Japan today; boxing, after all, was brought to America from England, while sumo, like Kabuki, is one of Japan’s few expressive institutions whose folklore betrays little trace of outside influence.
—Joshua Hunt, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Low-key and reserved on and off the course, the 23-year-old rarely betrays emotion.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The silliness betrays the seriousness.
—J. Aaron Sanders, STAT, 4 Feb. 2026
What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Don’t skip eye cream The under-eye area is often the first place that betrays a late night or an early alarm.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Sometimes a small chink in your camouflage betrays you to a wary tom.
—Bruce Brady, Outdoor Life, 8 Apr. 2026
After Sugar betrays her, Barbara cuts her friend off for decades, despite missing her deeply.
—Isle McElroy, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
But even this was a poor comparison for sumo’s place in the racial politics of Japan today; boxing, after all, was brought to America from England, while sumo, like Kabuki, is one of Japan’s few expressive institutions whose folklore betrays little trace of outside influence.
—Joshua Hunt, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Low-key and reserved on and off the course, the 23-year-old rarely betrays emotion.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The silliness betrays the seriousness.
—J. Aaron Sanders, STAT, 4 Feb. 2026
What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betrays
Verb
-
Before colonial borders were instituted, Wichí territory spanned the Gran Chaco—a region that crosses through Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil.—
María Carri,
Artforum,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Don’t forget to take a photo on the famous Queen Emma Bridge, a long pontoon bridge that crosses the natural harbor, between bites of sweets made by native Curaçaoans.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
New research reveals a potential link between GLP-1 drugs and improvements in myriad health conditions, including sleep apnea, joint pain, liver disease, heart disease, asthma, and even addiction.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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The report also reveals that interest on Blogoslawski’s own late tax payments was eliminated.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their taste runs so deeply Hollywood, their references so opulent and cinematic, that even a drink tray—in its cream lacquer and chrome border—tempts a standing ovation.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
22 Apr. 2026
-
If a purchase tempts you, say your budget aloud, then choose the upgrade that truly supports daily life.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sure, Wallace proudly displays his championship medal and ring in his home.—
Steve Reaven,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
In both Evil Dead Rise and The Mummy, Cronin displays a curiosity for using these tropes to display the rot at the heart of the nuclear family unit.—
Gregory Nussen,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The victim of his sacrifice is Gretchen, a virgin whom Faust seduces and abandons in his devilish reverie, and who kills their illegitimate child.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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While the handling of the outburst by BAFTA and the BBC wasn’t ideal for anyone involved, the outrage and fallout from the event shows that Davidson’s lifelong mission to educate the wider population about Tourette syndrome is ongoing, and so important.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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In the wake of the Iranian attack on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, MarineTraffic tracking data shows an almost total standstill of vessels transiting through the waterway.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Whale lusts after a hunky gardener (Brendan Fraser) and persuades him to pose for a few sketches; Julian, though bisexual, expresses no such interest in Lori, and any art-making turns out to be a gratifyingly mutual endeavor.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.—
Nick Dothée,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This action demonstrates the president’s monumental cruelty, total lack of empathy and compassion, pathological narcissism, boundless vengefulness, abysmal ignorance and glaring immaturity.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
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This study demonstrates that decentralized agents can achieve complex goals by following minimal physical rules and responding to environmental cues.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Betrays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betrays. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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