betrayed

American  

[bih-treyd] / bɪˈtreɪd /

adjective

1. 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.

2. not guarded, maintained, or fulfilled faithfully.

   The political history of that nation is a painful one, full of betrayed promises and almost continuous war.

3. 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.

4. revealed or disclosed in violation of confidence.

   In the underground economy, a betrayed secret is lethal to any operation.

5. deceived, misguided, or seduced.

   I’m expecting a thunderous reaction from the betrayed public as the disastrous effects of these policies strike them personally.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of betray.

Other Word Forms

• unbetrayed
  adjective

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

"Betrayed is not too strong a word. I’m out, I’m back to farming again."

From BBC • Sep. 18, 2024

Mr. Wilson published a memoir, “The Politics of Truth: Inside the Lies that Led to War and Betrayed My Wife’s CIA Identity,” in 2004, followed three years later by Plame’s own memoir.

From Washington Post • Sep. 27, 2019

Betrayed by the adults in power, they must use their collective powers to wage a resistance and take back their future.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 2, 2019

Betrayed by others, they betray in turn, forever tunneling back through the past, seeking the meaning of their acts.

From New York Times • Nov. 19, 2018

Betrayed yet again, Elizebeth and William felt trapped and desperate.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• misled
• tricked