betrayed
Americanadjective
-
delivered or exposed to an enemy by treachery or disloyalty.
After being double-crossed by one of his own, the betrayed agent sought retribution against the intelligence service.
-
not guarded, maintained, or fulfilled faithfully.
The political history of that nation is a painful one, full of betrayed promises and almost continuous war.
-
having one’s hopes or expectations disappointed, especially through abandonment or unfaithfulness.
For a betrayed spouse, the affair can be the most devastating experience of a lifetime.
-
revealed or disclosed in violation of confidence.
In the underground economy, a betrayed secret is lethal to any operation.
-
deceived, misguided, or seduced.
I’m expecting a thunderous reaction from the betrayed public as the disastrous effects of these policies strike them personally.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of betrayed
First recorded in 1605–15; betray ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; betray ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While others burned brightly for a short time before being betrayed by their bodies, he was a picture of consistency through the early days of his career.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Again, it was the slider that betrayed Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
These spaces are communities, and Mitrovich had betrayed an unspoken agreement to keep them that way.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
I can see why your friend felt betrayed.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026
The international court determined that the children and teenagers of the Third Reich had been betrayed, deserted, and sacrificed by a party and a regime that had used them to attain power.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
