betrayal
noun
be·tray·al
bi-ˈtrā(-ə)l 
bē-
plural betrayals
1
: the act of betraying someone or something or the fact of being betrayed : violation of a person's trust or confidence, of a moral standard, etc.
the betrayal of a friend
a betrayal of trust
a betrayal of one's principles
A man who built his entire administration upon demanding unctuous loyalty from his allies now finds himself wounded by their shabby betrayal.—
Jack Hitt
Jack HittThe double life of an informant is a peculiar one, filled at the same time with tedium and betrayal.—Karen Richardson
Karen RichardsonEven Jesus recognized that there was something paradoxical about his betrayal by Judas Iscariot—in three of the four canonical Gospels, with a kiss.—David Gates
David Gates2
: revelation of something hidden or secret
a betrayal of one's true feelings
There was never doubt, never a betrayal of indecision.—Jack London
Jack London… she had shrunk with irresistible dread from every course that could tend towards a betrayal of her miserable secret.—George Eliot
George EliotSynonyms
Examples of betrayal in a Sentence
the terrible betrayal of having her best friend reveal her confidences to others
Recent Examples on the Web
Over time, this child grows up, learning that people can be unreliable, that things fall apart and that every bond carries the risk of betrayal.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
The film embraces heroism in the face of an oppressive regime, the strength of fraternal ties and the themes of love, betrayal, morality and hope.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
And the movie attempts something even more audacious, bringing in an infamous incident, a certain shout of betrayal from the crowd, that actually happened in the U.K. a year later.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Perhaps not coincidentally, by the time the first season ended, Tulsa King had become less of a lighthearted dramedy — about an old-fashioned New York crime boss way out of his element — and more of a conventional crime drama with betrayals, gunfights, and brooding regrets.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024
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Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
The film embraces heroism in the face of an oppressive regime, the strength of fraternal ties and the themes of love, betrayal, morality and hope.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
And the movie attempts something even more audacious, bringing in an infamous incident, a certain shout of betrayal from the crowd, that actually happened in the U.K. a year later.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Perhaps not coincidentally, by the time the first season ended, Tulsa King had become less of a lighthearted dramedy — about an old-fashioned New York crime boss way out of his element — and more of a conventional crime drama with betrayals, gunfights, and brooding regrets.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for betrayal
Dictionary Entries Near betrayal
Cite this Entry
“Betrayal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/betrayal. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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