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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of betray
King’s struggle with temptation, doubt, faith and martyrdom mirrors the Biblical story of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane the night before he was betrayed.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2025
In Dembele’s early years at Barca, his body continually betrayed him.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Voices Hiltzik: Trump and Vance are dead wrong — economists unanimously agree that U.S. tariffs are a tax on American consumers
Sept. 4, 2024
Trump’s tariff orders betray the same inattention to detail.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
In the last minutes of the finale, Devon expresses her disbelief that her sister could betray Michaela in such a way.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for betray
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2025
In Dembele’s early years at Barca, his body continually betrayed him.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Voices Hiltzik: Trump and Vance are dead wrong — economists unanimously agree that U.S. tariffs are a tax on American consumers
Sept. 4, 2024
Trump’s tariff orders betray the same inattention to detail.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
In the last minutes of the finale, Devon expresses her disbelief that her sister could betray Michaela in such a way.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for betray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betray
Verb
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Interest on the debt just crossed $1 trillion annually — more than the U.S. spends on defense, Medicaid, disability insurance, and food stamps combined.—
Don Muir,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
-
Her career crossed a certain threshold of seriousness.—
Charlie Tyson,
New Yorker,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Without treatment, the disease eventually kills the corals, and their soft tissue falls off, revealing the white calcium carbonate skeleton below.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
5 June 2025
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Zooming in reveals a poor level of detail, while the colors look unnaturally bright.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
5 June 2025
Verb
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There was interest from the Saudi Pro League last summer, and clubs may be tempted to try again.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
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To design the space, interior designer Laura Gonzalez was tasked with reimagining One Wall Street into a shopping experience luxurious enough to tempt shoppers down to the Financial District.—
Sarah Wood González,
Vogue,
27 May 2025
Verb
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The 2023 Chianti Classico displayed beautiful freshness and elegance, offering pure fruit and immediate charm. Querciabella (Greve, Radda, Gaiole) – With organic and biodynamic vineyards across multiple UGAs, Querciabella champions purity and transparency in every bottle.—
Jessica Dupuy,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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They were punished with another partial stadium closure in April after displaying banners insulting ex-PSG player Rabiot during a game against Marseille.—
Tomás Hill López-Menchero,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Going even further, its materiality, terra-cotta, and its iconography, the corazón, seduce us to discover an even more seductive identity, a cultural and historical foundation, mexicanidad.—
Benjamin H. D. Buchloh,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
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But prosecutors warned observers not to be seduced by soft appearances.—
Thomas Adamson,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Example for business leaders: These books show how point of view can change everything — and sharing your point of view and being open to others perspectives is a critical business leadership skill.—
Esther K. Choy,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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For comparison, some TV OSes, like Roku OS and LG's webOS, show ads on the OS's home screen and/or when showing screensavers.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Jonathan Ernst | Reuters European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen managed to persuade the president to give talks more time but, as things stand, the EU has until July 9 to reach a deal with Washington.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
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Be on alert for phishing scams – Fraudsters regularly send emails that appear to be from a reputable source in order to persuade individuals to provide valuable personal information, such as access codes, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, account numbers, etc.—
Rick Unser,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Jeffrey will reveal the double-crossing FBI agent’s identity provided he’s given protection after Beatrix is in custody.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
8 May 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Betray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betray. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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