sell (out) 1 of 2

as in to betray
to be unfaithful or disloyal to the band sold out its faithful followers, abandoning its edgy style for a more commercial sound

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sellout

2 of 2

noun

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 sell (out)
Noun
Under Francis, the Vatican in 2018 inked a controversial agreement with Beijing governing the appointment of bishops, which many conservatives decried as a sellout of the underground Chinese Catholics who had remained loyal to Rome during decades of communist persecution. Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2025 Two-thirds of all matchups were sellouts, and 10 teams didn’t have a single empty seat all year. Nasha Smith, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025 Saturday’s Kentucky Derby will be a sellout, and ticket sales remain historically strong, even while demand for tickets in the $1,000 range have softened in recent weeks, according to the company. Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025 So far this season, the team has enjoyed three consecutive sellouts. Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sell (out)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sell (out)
Verb
  • Its summery beat and pop hooks are primed to reach a mainstream audience, and its twisting structure and intense second half make sure that the song doesn’t betray the band’s core appeal.
    Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 20 May 2025
  • His relationship with Elisabeth Moss’ June was a complicated matter that involved fathering one of her children, assisting her efforts to escape from/bring down Gilead and then betraying her at a crucial point in the rebellion.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • One professor challenged that reasoning, which Casas repeated during the panel on Wednesday, telling the police chief that for students with fragile immigration statuses, being detained by university police would feel like a betrayal.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
  • In the aftermath, Mahnaz will be forced to confront betrayal and loss, and to embark on a quest for justice.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Press play below to learn more about Wells’ treachery, and to get a sneak peek at the fugitive interacting with her latest target.
    Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Sinners is one of the great vampire movies of the modern age, mining the legend of these perpetual outsiders who desperately yearn to belong, but whose silky promises are rooted in treachery.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Lee’s campaign has asserted that a sitting president cannot be criminally prosecuted, except in cases of treason.
    Jong Eun Lee, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
  • The cost of failure would have been death on the grounds of treason.
    Daniel Twining, National Review, 22 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sell (out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sell%20%28out%29. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!