betrayed
Americanadjective
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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.
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not guarded, maintained, or fulfilled faithfully.
The political history of that nation is a painful one, full of betrayed promises and almost continuous war.
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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.
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revealed or disclosed in violation of confidence.
In the underground economy, a betrayed secret is lethal to any operation.
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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
Derived 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.
She’s aware she’s being betrayed by the bad faith of her family; she’s cognizant of being vulnerable to an inappropriate affection for the one person who trusts her.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
“Most people feel betrayed, and that’s bipartisan,” Stephen Otterstrom, a longtime Salt Lake City resident running to represent District 21 in the Statehouse, told me.
From Slate • Jun. 1, 2026
“If you’re feeling helpless, if you’re feeling hopeless, if you’re feeling betrayed, if you’re feeling frustrated, if you’re feeling angry, I understand,” Springsteen said.
From Salon • May 29, 2026
A pen and a contract lay atop the metal, ready for a forced signature, while the man’s fiancee and her father watch in silence, seeking revenge on the person who betrayed them.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
I was only too eager to tell Mr. Moorman and all Holland how Jan Vogel had betrayed his country.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
