betrayed

[bih-treyd]

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.

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• unbetrayed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of betrayed¹

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

Czechs and Slovaks will rally in both countries Monday, the anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution that toppled communism in former Czechoslovakia, to denounce the leaders they say have betrayed its legacy.

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You betrayed the trust of a number of women, in the most appalling ways imaginable.

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Many users said the only reason they booked with Sonder was because it seemed reliably "backed" by the well-known Marriott brand - but now felt betrayed.

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Many of his investors mistrusted him, and he in turn felt betrayed by them.

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“In doing so, the defendants deprived the Cleveland Guardians and Major League Baseball of their honest services. They defrauded the online betting platforms where the bets were placed. And they betrayed America’s pastime.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• misled 
• tricked www.thesaurus.com