to betray

Examples

• All

• I was betrayed by a personal confidant.

  Assassin's Vow (2007)

• I feel betrayed, stabbed in the back.

• So I had a situation where I had a really close friend of mine betray me in the worst way possible.

  Evan Carmichael

• No, I feel very, very betrayed by that.

• Or the friend that betrayed your trust, the person that broke your heart.

  Dr. Josh Axe

• I had betrayed the public trust.

  Flight (2012)

• I have betrayed your trust.

  The Hoax (2006)

• It's a Prime Minister who said people could put their trust in him on the NHS and he has betrayed that trust.

• Oh, in rare non Trump news, I am feeling horribly betrayed this evening.

• Tess flinched, ashamed at having betrayed this woman who had already been betrayed too many times by life.

  Fiction book (1996)

Synonyms

T

to tell

vsto betray

688 2.7

Report someone's actions to the police or an authority

is specifically about exposing secret or harmful information that violates confidence

E

to expose

vsto betray

413 4.1

Reveal hidden facts or bad actions to people

focuses on making secrets known in ways that break trust or harm someone

L

to leak

vsto betray

293 4.1

To tell secret information to the public without permission

is used for exposing private facts that violate trust rather than mere public release

S

to sell someone out

vsto betray

• Informal

160 5.9

Betray someone by telling their secrets to others for personal gain

is about making secrets known in ways that violate trust or harm relationships

G

to give away

vsto betray

130 3.4

Tell a secret on purpose or by accident

is focused on deliberate revealing that violates trust and can harm someone

R

to rat

vsto betray

• Informal

119 8.8

To betray others by telling secret information about them

refers to revealing confidential information that violates trust

R

to rat out

vsto betray

• Informal

80 8.6

To tell the police or another authority about someone's bad action, betraying their trust

is about revealing secret or harmful details that damage trust

L

to let on

vsto betray

• Informal

68 6.0

To tell a secret or show feelings you were trying to hide

focuses on disclosures that harm relationships or violate trust

D

to divulge

vsto betray

52 6.2

To tell secret or private information to people

is about revealing secrets in ways that break confidence or cause harm

S

to snitch

vsto betray

• Slang

51 7.9

To secretly tell the police or a person in charge about someone's bad actions

is used for revealing confidential or harmful information that violates trust

D

to double-cross

vsto betray

48 6.5

Betray someone who trusts you after pretending to help them

is about revealing secret or harmful information that violates trust, not false cooperation

T

to tell on

vsto betray

• Informal

47 4.4

To report to a person in charge that someone did something wrong so they get in trouble

focuses on revealing confidential wrongdoing that damages trust and causes harm

I

to inform

vsto betray

15 6.8

To secretly tell the police about someone's illegal actions

adds the idea of revealing confidential or harmful facts that break trust

T

to tattle

vsto betray

• Informal

10 7.0

Tell a person in charge about someone else's bad actions in a childish way

is used for revealing confidential or harmful information that damages trust

D

to dish the dirt

vsto betray

• Informal

2 8.5

To tell private or bad things about someone to other people

is about revealing confidential or harmful information that violates trust, not gossip

P

to peach

vsto betray

• Archaic

2 9.9

To tell authorities secret information about someone to get them in trouble

focuses on revealing secrets that break confidence and harm someone

D

to denounce

vsto betray

• Formal

1 6.5

Tell authorities about someone, often exposing them to punishment

is about revealing private or harmful facts that breach confidence rather than public accusation

S

to shop

vsto betray

• Informal

1 8.0

To tell the police or a manager that someone did something wrong

is used for revealing secret or harmful acts that break trust or law

S

to sing

vsto betray

• Slang

1 8.4

To tell secret information to the police or other officials

is used for revealing harmful or secret facts that violate trust

G

to grass

vsto betray

• Slang

1 9.9

To tell the police that someone has done something wrong

is broader, covering revelation of confidential information that violates trust

Antonyms

P

to protect

∞ 1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

S

safeguard

60 4.0

A way to protect someone or something from harm

How Disloyal

leak

194 4.8

to betray

24 4.6

to expose

413 4.1

to disclose

245 4.1

to reveal

∞ 2.3

to let slip

23 5.6

Surface Forms

Etymology