backstabbing
Betrayal behind smiles
Backstabbing is betraying someone who trusts you, especially by criticizing or undermining them when they're not present.
The image is of attacking from behind—a cowardly strike against someone who considers you an ally.
The office was full of backstabbing and petty rivalries.
As an adjective: a backstabbing colleague.
One who does this is a backstabber.
One who betrays allegiance
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- selloutCompromiser of integrity
turncoat · perfidy · treason · defection · Judas · snake · duplicity · two-faced
Underhanded control of others
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- plottingDevising a secret plan
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
conspiracy · subterfuge · deception · cunning · calculating · scheming · underhanded · collusion
Petty malicious intent
- vindictivenessDisposition toward retaliation
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- venomInjected animal poison
- malevolenceActive ill will
hostility · ill-will · enmity · animosity · resentment · bitterness · hatred · mean-spirited
Sense of unease about motives
- paranoiaIrrational persecution fears
- warinessCautious distrust
- mistrustLack of faith
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
guardedness · vigilance · second-guessing · doubt · caution · cynicism
Not anticipated beforehand
- blindsidedSurprised by unforeseen impact
- sucker-punchBlow dealt without warning
- bombshellShocking sudden revelation
- stunningExtremely impressive or beautiful
devastating · unforeseen · caught-off-guard · jaw-dropping · disbelief · reeling · whiplash · revelation
traitor
One who betrays allegiance
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
sellout · turncoat · perfidy · treason · defection · Judas · snake · duplicity · two-faced · disloyalty
manipulation
Underhanded control of others
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- plottingDevising a secret plan
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
intrigue · conspiracy · subterfuge · deception · cunning · calculating · scheming · underhanded · collusion · maneuvering
spite
Petty malicious intent
- vindictivenessDisposition toward retaliation
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- venomInjected animal poison
malevolence · hostility · ill-will · enmity · animosity · resentment · bitterness · hatred · mean-spirited · cold-blooded
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
skepticism · guardedness · vigilance · second-guessing · doubt · caution · cynicism
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
- blindsidedSurprised by unforeseen impact
- sucker-punchBlow dealt without warning
- bombshellShocking sudden revelation
stunning · devastating · unforeseen · caught-off-guard · jaw-dropping · disbelief · reeling · whiplash · revelation
- dirty trickscheating, lying, deceit, trickery, deception
- slang behaviorsgoofing off, messing around, fooling around, horsing around, slacking
- bad behaviorcheating, stealing, lying, greed, selfishness
- bad behaviorslying, cheating, stealing, rudeness, gossiping
- betrayalbetray, betrayal, traitor, double-cross, treachery
- betrayalscheating, disloyalty, double-crossing, infidelity, treachery
backstabbingloyalty
Faithful commitment to another
faithfulness · fidelity · devotion · allegiance · steadfastness
backstabbingconfrontation
Direct hostile encounter
directness · confronting · forthrightness · candor · straight shooting
backstabbingprotection
Guarding against harm
defending · shielding · safeguarding · championing · advocacy