1
as in crossing
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 revealing
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 seducing
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 betraying
At the end of the second season, multiple armies were mustering for war over King's Landing as the Targaryen clan just couldn't stop betraying each other long enough to govern.
—
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
The West is betraying 'liberal values' for a genocidal fascist foreign government.
—Anhelina Shamlii, CBS News, 1 June 2026
But since then the process of identifying a new vendor and signing a contract has been painfully slow, betraying the mayor’s lack of urgency.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
In a lengthy statement on Wednesday, Pattie Gonia accused the company of betraying its own mission by filing the suit.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Perry’s grieving mother accuses Iwamasa of betraying his duty to protect her son.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
But the upshot is, this update gets a few things right that might have been difficult to nail 80 years ago, without betraying any of the things that were already indisputably on-point.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 May 2026
Critics, however, accuse him of betraying voters by campaigning against austerity only to later sign a tough bailout agreement.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
The betrayal there, if there is any, is Ebony betraying her sister for him.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 May 2026
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
The West is betraying 'liberal values' for a genocidal fascist foreign government.
—Anhelina Shamlii, CBS News, 1 June 2026
But since then the process of identifying a new vendor and signing a contract has been painfully slow, betraying the mayor’s lack of urgency.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
In a lengthy statement on Wednesday, Pattie Gonia accused the company of betraying its own mission by filing the suit.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Perry’s grieving mother accuses Iwamasa of betraying his duty to protect her son.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
But the upshot is, this update gets a few things right that might have been difficult to nail 80 years ago, without betraying any of the things that were already indisputably on-point.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 May 2026
Critics, however, accuse him of betraying voters by campaigning against austerity only to later sign a tough bailout agreement.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
The betrayal there, if there is any, is Ebony betraying her sister for him.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betraying
Verb
-
The vote was 198-218, with 19 Republicans crossing the aisle to vote against it and seven Democrats voting for it.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
Catalina is the closest offshore island vacation west of the Mississippi, reachable in about 70 minutes from Long Beach, San Pedro or Dana Point on the smooth, fast-crossing ferries of Catalina Express.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
His wife, Alicia Brown, posted a video on her verified Instagram page Sunday where she is seen crying while revealing what appears to be multiple stitches above and below her left eyebrow.—
Rodney Ho,
AJC.com,
12 June 2026
-
Don’t forget to scan the QR code on the accompanying postcard, revealing a custom road trip playlist that will send you off on your Rhode Island adventure with an indulgent mix of oldies and contemporary hits.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
That means seducing Paris Carver, Elliot's wife and Bond's ex, portrayed by Teri Hatcher.—
John Russell,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
Nate plays his older neighbors like a fiddle, seducing them with his beauty, money, and youth.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Judging Other Women More Harshly Than Men Research consistently shows that women leaders are often evaluated differently than men displaying identical behaviors.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Purchase archive-quality albums or frames for displaying them.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
That has sent maritime insurance rates through the roof and given some financiers and shipping companies cold feet about tempting fate and navigating through the troubled waters.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
Don't forget to check out our roundup of the best early Prime Day deals for even more savings across laptops, TVs, smart home gear, and everything else currently tempting my wallet.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
One customer showing her Dutch pride is Agatha Mills Doboer.—
Dawn White,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
-
The city, which has grown 61% in the last decade, is now majority minority with census data showing the population as 46% white, 34% Asian, 10% Latino and 10% Black.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Some flowers and scented herbs can be used as companion plants to naturally repel aphids, while others function as trap crops by luring aphids away from milkweed.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 June 2026
-
At the same time, the chance to work with robotics has begun luring younger workers for whom the digital revolution and video games are second nature.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Through it all, Sirianni has been adaptable, demonstrating a willingness to make big changes on the fly.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
The humanities will survive not by defending an imagined past of disinterested purity, but by demonstrating their necessity in a fractured republic.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Betraying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betraying. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
