backstabbing
noun
back·stab·bing
ˈbak-ˌsta-biŋ 
: betrayal (as by a verbal attack against one not present) especially by a false friend
Synonyms
Examples of backstabbing in a Sentence
She was hurt by her former friend's backstabbing.
a reality TV show that seems to have raised backstabbing to an art form
Recent Examples on the Web
This backstabbing reflects a growing power vacuum within Iraq’s Shiite community, one that has opened up as Iran’s influence in the country has waned.
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Mohamad Bazzi, Foreign Affairs, 13 Sep. 2022
The struggle for the new casino is more trouble than Ryan could have imagined, bringing up old mob ties, unknown family history, backstabbings, battles of ego, and plenty of misunderstandings from the rumor mill among Vegas’s major players.
—Theo Faherty, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
For those who love Survivor but don't care for the backstabbing, Alone is your best alternative.
—Sophie Van Bastelaer, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2023
For those who love the thrill of competition but don't enjoy the backstabbing of Survivor or Big Brother, The Amazing Race is for you.
—Emily Smith, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for backstabbing 
Mohamad Bazzi, Foreign Affairs, 13 Sep. 2022
The struggle for the new casino is more trouble than Ryan could have imagined, bringing up old mob ties, unknown family history, backstabbings, battles of ego, and plenty of misunderstandings from the rumor mill among Vegas’s major players.
—Theo Faherty, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
For those who love Survivor but don't care for the backstabbing, Alone is your best alternative.
—Sophie Van Bastelaer, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2023
For those who love the thrill of competition but don't enjoy the backstabbing of Survivor or Big Brother, The Amazing Race is for you.
—Emily Smith, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for backstabbing
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backstabbing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Backstabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstabbing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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