1
as in crosses
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
2
as in reveals
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 tempts
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
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Recent Examples of betrays
But the plot also retains a serial quality that saps momentum and betrays its TV roots.
—
Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Don’t skip eye cream The under-eye area is often the first place that betrays a late night or an early alarm.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Sometimes a small chink in your camouflage betrays you to a wary tom.
—Bruce Brady, Outdoor Life, 8 Apr. 2026
After Sugar betrays her, Barbara cuts her friend off for decades, despite missing her deeply.
—Isle McElroy, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
But even this was a poor comparison for sumo’s place in the racial politics of Japan today; boxing, after all, was brought to America from England, while sumo, like Kabuki, is one of Japan’s few expressive institutions whose folklore betrays little trace of outside influence.
—Joshua Hunt, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Low-key and reserved on and off the course, the 23-year-old rarely betrays emotion.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The silliness betrays the seriousness.
—J. Aaron Sanders, STAT, 4 Feb. 2026
What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Don’t skip eye cream The under-eye area is often the first place that betrays a late night or an early alarm.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Sometimes a small chink in your camouflage betrays you to a wary tom.
—Bruce Brady, Outdoor Life, 8 Apr. 2026
After Sugar betrays her, Barbara cuts her friend off for decades, despite missing her deeply.
—Isle McElroy, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
But even this was a poor comparison for sumo’s place in the racial politics of Japan today; boxing, after all, was brought to America from England, while sumo, like Kabuki, is one of Japan’s few expressive institutions whose folklore betrays little trace of outside influence.
—Joshua Hunt, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Low-key and reserved on and off the course, the 23-year-old rarely betrays emotion.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The silliness betrays the seriousness.
—J. Aaron Sanders, STAT, 4 Feb. 2026
What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betrays
Verb
-
The Moon crosses your 3rd House of Communication, where your words shape how others show up.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
When this roofless McLaren P1 crosses the Bonhams auction block, during the weekend of Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix, it’s expected to fetch anywhere from $4 million to $5 million.—
Howard Walker,
Robb Report,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
New research reveals a potential link between GLP-1 drugs and improvements in myriad health conditions, including sleep apnea, joint pain, liver disease, heart disease, asthma, and even addiction.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The report also reveals that interest on Blogoslawski’s own late tax payments was eliminated.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their taste runs so deeply Hollywood, their references so opulent and cinematic, that even a drink tray—in its cream lacquer and chrome border—tempts a standing ovation.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
22 Apr. 2026
-
If a purchase tempts you, say your budget aloud, then choose the upgrade that truly supports daily life.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Critics say that strategy displays a misunderstanding of how the 109-year-old agency functions.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Ponds also plays with a chip on his shoulder and displays fearlessness both in coverage situations and against the run.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The victim of his sacrifice is Gretchen, a virgin whom Faust seduces and abandons in his devilish reverie, and who kills their illegitimate child.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The information appears next to an April 26 Navy photo that shows Boxer transiting the Surigao Straight, roughly 4,000 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
From all-world jazz guitarist Pat Metheny to super soprano Renee Fleming to the wonderful Smuin Ballet, there are a lot of great concerts and shows to catch this weekend and beyond.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Whale lusts after a hunky gardener (Brendan Fraser) and persuades him to pose for a few sketches; Julian, though bisexual, expresses no such interest in Lori, and any art-making turns out to be a gratifyingly mutual endeavor.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.—
Nick Dothée,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has argued that last weekend’s shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner demonstrates why the ballroom is needed to hold safe, secure events for the president and other officials.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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The initiative not only strengthens Australia’s defence posture but also demonstrates the growing importance of advanced land systems in addressing the security challenges of the future.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Betrays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betrays. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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