1
as in to cross
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reveal
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 to tempt
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of betray
And what the project means by the term—turning the Department of Energy into a handmaiden of the coal, oil and natural gas industry—betrays not only the taxpayer but science itself.
—
Megha Satyanarayana, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2025
But changes shoehorned by committee members have angered the Sacramento-area state senator who authored the bill, saying the new-look legislation betrays her constituents and the two young men for whom the bill is named.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2025
None of the other 11 disciples had a clue that Judas was planning to betray Jesus.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2025
After showing up, fighting for others, we were betrayed at the polls.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for betray
Megha Satyanarayana, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2025
But changes shoehorned by committee members have angered the Sacramento-area state senator who authored the bill, saying the new-look legislation betrays her constituents and the two young men for whom the bill is named.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2025
None of the other 11 disciples had a clue that Judas was planning to betray Jesus.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2025
After showing up, fighting for others, we were betrayed at the polls.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for betray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betray
Verb
-
Add to that a greater reluctance by those in the public and private sectors to cross Trump, wary of putting themselves and their organizations in the crosshairs of his administration.—
Mark K. Updegrove,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
-
There's a callback to that scene late in the film when the knights must answer three questions to cross the Bridge of Death or else be chucked into the Gorge of Eternal Peril.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In September 2023, another investigation with Webb – an advanced telescope launched in 2021 outfitted with powerful infrared instruments – revealed something more: traces of carbon-bearing molecules in K2-18b's atmosphere, including methane and carbon dioxide.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Excerpts of Michel’s interviews with McVeigh reveal a man who is still bitter from enduring bullying as a young child.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
If that’s not enough to tempt you, the set also comes with an insulated wine bag, an insulated cooler (which fits nicely in the basket), two food containers, and a fleece blanket.—
Anne Taylor,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Apr. 2025
-
You may be tempted to cry into your beer over all of the recent problems with the economy and the rising prices of … well, everything.—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The soon-to-be 23-year-old displayed impressive contact balance and routinely churned out additional yards after being hit, but his workload in college (879 carries in five years) raises questions about his long-term outlook in the NFL. 191.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Federal authorities allege Cui and Miller paid two other people about $36,500 to convince the victim not to display the statues.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
After turning undead and hiding her bite wound, Mary easily gets permission to re-enter the building, and quickly seduces Stack, before murdering him and infecting him with the vampire curse.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
But the next pope may be seduced by that glitter again.—
Howard Chua-Eoan,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
An online database that tracks ship movements shows the Mohawk has been docked in its home port since mid-March.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Text messages sent in the hours leading up to O’Keefe’s death read aloud to the court by a Massachusetts state trooper show the couple were at a strained point in their relationship.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Another factor that might hamper Chelsea’s attempts to persuade Rak-Sakyi to stay is what has happened to his brother, Jesurun.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
-
The administration is expected to return to the Supreme Court quickly in an effort to persuade the justices to lift their temporary order.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
This is the second view of political leadership: double-cross, cheat, bully, cajole, break the conventions and rules – do whatever works!—
John Nemec,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2025
-
These are the women who seduce (or are seduced by) Bond, assist in his missions, and/or double-cross him.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Betray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betray. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share