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
Relevance
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
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 backstabbing
Tevi Troy, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
And fundamentally, palace coups were about personal relations in the corridors of power: naked ambitions and the backstabbing of rivals.
—Sergey Radchenko, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2022
While things started so well, and this fresh-faced, handsome leader was touted as one of the most promising in the free world, Trudeau’s tenure was ultimately beset by issues surrounding ethics probes, economics and backstabbings.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
Welcome back for another season full of [Alan Cumming voice] deception, backstabbing and treachery!
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstabbing
Noun
In managing Trump to victory, Wiles showed real skill in tamping down egos, minimizing leaking, and limiting the backstabbing.
—Tevi Troy, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
And fundamentally, palace coups were about personal relations in the corridors of power: naked ambitions and the backstabbing of rivals.
—Sergey Radchenko, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2022
While things started so well, and this fresh-faced, handsome leader was touted as one of the most promising in the free world, Trudeau’s tenure was ultimately beset by issues surrounding ethics probes, economics and backstabbings.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
Welcome back for another season full of [Alan Cumming voice] deception, backstabbing and treachery!
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstabbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstabbing
Noun
-
Because of that treachery Castor was a pure mortal, but Pollux was a half god.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
6 Apr. 2025
-
After weeks of treachery and deception, the final roundtable has been viewed, and the winner or winners for The Traitors Season 3 have been revealed.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
America’s shoppers are not betraying signs of an economic slowdown.—
Melvin Backman,
Quartz,
18 Dec. 2024
-
Who is the person that loves their husband, and yet is betraying them all the time?—
Carita Rizzo,
Deadline,
15 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
But betrayals were happening inside their home, too.—
Kim Willis,
USA TODAY,
25 Mar. 2025
-
For many customers, these changes represent a fundamental betrayal of what made Southwest different.—
Roger Dooley,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backstabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstabbing. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share