Showing results for "betrayed"

• past tense form of betray.
• past participle of betray.

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

See Examples For:

betrayed

“That was when everything exploded. On a personal level, we felt betrayed, but on a broader level, we felt treasoned,” he told me.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

"He feels Harry has betrayed him. He's made that clear."

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Trump has told advisers that he is angry with Pirro and felt betrayed by the court filing, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

The singer has has rarely spoken or betrayed reactions to testimony.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

She looked betrayed, and she stomped out of the room, her staff gripped tight.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Related Words

• misled
• tricked