as in treachery
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another
a reality TV show that seems to have raised backstabbing to an art form
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in betraying
to be unfaithful or disloyal to
knew what it felt like to be backstabbed by a so-called friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backstabbing
Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Through backstabbing, alliances and thrilling competition, players have the chance to win $4.56 million — a fraction of the 45.6 billion won that's offered in the fictional Squid Game.
—Skyler Trepel, People.com, 30 June 2025
Josh Kroenke fired his coach and president of basketball operations in April to end years of not-so-secret intra-office backstabbing and rancor.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 23 June 2025
Media overlords collide in power summits and backstabbings.
—Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstabbing
Noun
The best crime drama streaming has it all: feuding mob families, backstabbing, feds, snitches, violence, fantastic needle drops, and multiple conversations about ziti.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Through backstabbing, alliances and thrilling competition, players have the chance to win $4.56 million — a fraction of the 45.6 billion won that's offered in the fictional Squid Game.
—Skyler Trepel, People.com, 30 June 2025
Josh Kroenke fired his coach and president of basketball operations in April to end years of not-so-secret intra-office backstabbing and rancor.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 23 June 2025
Media overlords collide in power summits and backstabbings.
—Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstabbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstabbing
Noun
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When does compromise become treachery or defeat?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
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Could Juno be behind this treachery, as payback for David destroying her spy corporation and for changing his oldest daughter into a killer?—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And there’s also the suggestion that Michaela believes Simone is betraying the feminist cause by settling at such a young age for the role of plus-one to a wealthy man who treats his relationships like a transaction.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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Already hacked off by the renovation fiasco, the company’s longtime patrons pounced, accusing the corporation of betraying its history and values.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This final betrayal will be his undoing, as the enraged creature, doomed to live without connection, care, or love, finally snaps and destroys everything Victor holds dear.—
Thomas Page McBee,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Your narrative, with its shifting of points of view among four longtime friends, allows for intimacy and drama as well as betrayals and loss as Desiree, Nakia, Monique and January (with Desiree’s estranged sister Danielle mostly on the sidelines) each tell their stories.—
Jane Ciabattari
September 16,
Literary Hub,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backstabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstabbing. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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