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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backstabbing
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Feb. 2026
This 2000s teen drama has relationship drama, backstabbing, layered characters, and an ominous blogger to chronicle it all.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
This 2000s teen drama delivers relationship drama, backstabbing, layered characters, and an ominous anonymous blogger chronicling all of it.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
But the hardest part of the novel wasn’t scripting the scheming, backstabbing, or duplicitous behavior.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backstabbing
Noun
All that strategy and backstabbing!
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Feb. 2026
This 2000s teen drama has relationship drama, backstabbing, layered characters, and an ominous blogger to chronicle it all.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
This 2000s teen drama delivers relationship drama, backstabbing, layered characters, and an ominous anonymous blogger chronicling all of it.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
But the hardest part of the novel wasn’t scripting the scheming, backstabbing, or duplicitous behavior.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backstabbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstabbing
Noun
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Upon learning of Ava’s treachery, Deborah HOWLS.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
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Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The betrayal there, if there is any, is Ebony betraying her sister for him.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
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Musk’s legal team accused Altman, OpenAI, and its president, Greg Brockman, of betraying the company’s founding mission, and OpenAI argued that Musk’s claims are baseless and aimed at gaining control over the company.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Noun
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But somewhere along the way, a portion of the WNBA ecosystem — fans, players and even some media members — started treating criticism as betrayal.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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The sequel series is based on similar – and familiar – concepts of love, loyalty and betrayal, once again set in the mafia underworld.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backstabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstabbing. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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