betrays

verb

present tense third-person singular of betray
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 betrays To take such a thing seriously in this age of nihilism and disenchantment betrays a person as potentially unserious, someone committed to abstraction, to feeling over logic and material reality. — Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026 But the production here betrays its economy, and the direction, by Garth Davis and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, remains earthbound, held down by mournful strings and devoid of color. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 But its name betrays a critical second function, which is to provide the type of tire-biting traction that can rescue you from one of the more frustrating debacles of off-road travel. — New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2026 In a letter to Congress, the former employees say this betrays that the infrastructure problems are being exaggerated. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 28 Sep. 2026 Related Stories The centerpiece confrontation behind The Betrayers comes between Baruch Kotler, the politician played by Michael Aronov, who betrays his wife and daughter when his affair with his mistress, Leora, played by Kaelen Ohm, is exposed. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026 The series follows Mónica, a newly qualified lawyer who learns to defraud clients, manipulates her family to secure an inheritance, then betrays her mentor. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026 If one betrays secrets for money, their sale reveals that people within elite institutions are out for themselves, looking to profit from insider positions. — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 The treatment of those on board betrays that promise—and it is not limited to just this one ship on this one very long deployment. — Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betrays
  1. crosses
  2. reveals
  3. tempts
  4. displays
  5. seduces
  6. shows
  7. persuades
  8. demonstrates
Verb
  • Bankrate’s next holiday spending report, and whether the share of shoppers starting before the end of October crosses the 50% line.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The shower happens because Earth crosses a stream of debris left behind by Halley's Comet, which was last in the inner solar system in 1986 and will return in 2061.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of crosses
Verb
  • There’s one detail that, looking back on it today, reveals a lot about the future queen of pop.
    — Ilaria Perrotta, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
  • An exclusive excerpt from Jonathan Van Meter’s ‘Citizen Kim’ reveals how a French Impressionist masterpiece ended up on her bathroom wall.
    — Jonathan Van Meter, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of reveals
Verb
  • For most, fear of shame is a necessary backstop to push people away from what wrongly tempts them.
    — Robert A. Ballingall, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026
  • While Sal tempts Sessa’s Bourdain with drugs, thievery and more bad behavior.
    — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of tempts
Verb
  • The message also displays what looks like the official Social Security website address.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Listen displays album artwork and playback information, while Climate illustrates cabin airflow and seat temperature.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of displays
Verb
  • Artificial plays like a modern-day parable in which the trickster god seduces the innocent.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Diaz centers music as the emotional vehicle that provides a philosophical structure for the character tropes and in turn psychologically seduces the audience to internalize certain ideas of social dynamics.
    — Damaly Gonzalez, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of seduces
Verb
  • Vucic’s ousting shows the downside of that approach, as the whole relationship will have to be rebuilt from the ground up.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
  • DeMarvion Overshown shows his worth When it was announced this week that linebacker DeMarvion Overshown would return from a five-game absence due to a hamstring injury, the reaction on social media was surprisingly negative.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of shows
Verb
  • Fielder persuades Holmes to watch it for the first time, on a laptop in the couple’s bed.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • While posing artfully in the store’s shop window, Klara catches the eye of Josie (Mia Tharia), who persuades her mother Chrissie (Amy Adams) to buy her as a companion.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of persuades
Verb
  • Doe’s case demonstrates just how complex Title IX cases are, even under the more protective policies afforded to accusers by past presidential administrations.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • For now, the work demonstrates a limited but automated connection between detecting an odor and recreating a corresponding scent elsewhere.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of demonstrates

Browse Nearby Words

betraying
betrays
betroth
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Cite this Entry

“Betrays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betrays. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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