backstabbers

Covert trust breakers

Backstabbers are people who betray others while pretending to be friendly or loyal.

The image is of someone attacking from behind—striking when the victim can't see it coming.

The word implies deceit and cowardice: Watch out for backstabbers in that office.

A backstabber smiles to your face while undermining you to others.

betrayers

turncoat

One who betrays allegiance

double-crosserOne who deceives confederates
traitorOne who betrays allegiance
JudasArchetypal betrayer name

informer · defector · betrayer · renegade · quisling · rat · fink · snake · saboteur · mole

traits

two-faced

Insincere and deceptive

duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
perfidiousDeliberately breaking faith

disloyal · unfaithful · untrustworthy · deceitful · scheming · conniving · manipulative · underhanded · insidious · devious

actions

double-cross

Treacherous deception of partner

betrayViolate a trust
undermineWeaken by stealth
sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations

deceive · conspire · scheme · collude · manipulate · plot · subvert · mislead · dissemble · entrap

Categories

relationshipsfriends, romantic, family, friend, flirting
annoyancesannoyance, annoyances, irritations, irritation, nuisance
criticscritic, critics, criticizer, criticizers, faultfinder
tough guystough guys, tough guy, thug, thugs, enforcer
insurgentsinsurgent, guerrillas, guerrilla, rebel, resistance fighters
bad influenceswrong crowd, peer pressure, bad habits, enablers, manipulators

Opposites

loyalty and trustworthiness

backstabbersloyalists

Faithful to established authority

true believers · defenders · supporters · protectors · confidants

interpersonal conduct

backstabbersstraight shooters

Forthright, honest individuals

honest brokers · truth-tellers · stand-up guys · mensch · advocates

Family

backstabber, backstabbed

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG