betray

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb betray differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of betray are disclose, divulge, reveal, and tell. While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

When is it sensible to use disclose instead of betray?

Although the words disclose and betray have much in common, disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

When can divulge be used instead of betray?

While the synonyms divulge and betray are close in meaning, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

When could reveal be used to replace betray?

While in some cases nearly identical to betray, reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

In what contexts can tell take the place of betray?

The words tell and betray are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

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 Rather than betraying tradition, the Big Bang transforms it. Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2025 They were savaged so badly in Rolling Stone that, a decade later, the writer apologized for betraying the team’s trust. Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025 What followed was a shocking turn of events, as Cena, fresh from winning the Men's Elimination Chamber and securing a WrestleMania title shot against Rhodes, betrayed his long-standing heroic persona and launched a brutal attack on Rhodes. Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025 Platitudes about free expression betray a deliberate ignorance of human psychology. David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for betray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betray
Verb
  • Metro Police were forced to shut down 14th street, a major road across the National Mall, because so many pedestrians were crossing.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The advisory recommends placing devices in airplane mode before crossing to prevent unintended downloads of remote files, which could complicate screenings.
    Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • For example, the podcast didn’t reveal that Kochan was assaulted as a child by her mother’s boyfriend until the end, whereas the TV series introduces that information early on.
    Selome Hailu, Variety, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Tim Plowman and Jim Duke would famously reveal coca to be both benign and chock-full of vital nutrients, but their nutritional study came a generation too late to inform the bureaucratic and political process that led to the criminalization of the plant.
    Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Category extension: Beyond time pieces, time objects Being resilient also means finding new ways to be relevant for consumers who might have an abundant watch collection and might be much more difficult to tempt with new ones.
    Stéphane JG Girod, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Again, Lewandowski is coming short and tempting the right-sided centre-back higher up the pitch.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The new portable console features a 7.9 inch LCD screen that displays in 1080p.
    CBS News, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Asia Asian stocks have displayed a mixed performance throughout Wednesday's trading session.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Single women—more likely, naturally, to be seduced by the devil—were disproportionately executed for witchcraft.
    Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Taking over a century-old garden house hidden within Shanghai’s storied alleys, Samuel Gui Yang softly partitioned the space, seducing the audience yet making every one of them a clandestine voyeur.
    Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In February 2025, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed that food prices were up 3.2% year-over-year, with food away from home rising 4.5%—a clear indicator that even fast food is being reconsidered as an occasional indulgence.
    Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • For the rest of the short teaser, Lord and Lady Grantham (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern) are shown walking around the grounds of the estate, touching bannisters and stone pillars with an air of finality.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Part of persuading consumers to spend on sustainable products comes from carefully planned and executed advertising and marketing campaigns.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 26 Mar. 2025
  • But the taxpayer still persuaded the Tax Court.
    Robert W. Wood, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • At owners meetings, she’s double-crossed and leered at by older men.
    Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Betray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betray. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

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