betrayed

American

[bih-treyd] / bɪˈtreɪd /

adjective

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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"He betrayed the Iranians," said one woman in her 30s, requesting anonymity for security reasons.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Giovanni Colli, 71, rolling his eyes while sipping an espresso at a café near the Pantheon, says he feels "betrayed."

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Joe Kent, a former special operations soldier who completed 11 combat deployments, including in Iraq, said he had supported Trump’s promise of not getting involved in “never-ending wars” and felt betrayed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

“But I’ve been betrayed by hope before. But I understand what you’re saying. You have to have some hope. I’m just careful what I hope for.”

From Salon • Feb. 27, 2026

At least when I’m Zeta-1 for real, I’ll no longer remember Dad’s hopes for us, how Javier betrayed me.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023