double-crossing
Secretly switching sides
Double-crossing is betraying someone who trusted you, especially after pretending to be on their side.
The term suggests deliberate deception—agreeing to one thing while secretly planning another: She was double-crossing her business partners the whole time.
A double-crosser is someone who makes a habit of such betrayals.
One who betrays allegiance
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- JudasArchetypal betrayer name
sellout · two-timing · disloyalty · treachery · perfidy · faithlessness · unfaithfulness · breach of trust
Argument against
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
deceit · duplicity · guile · subterfuge · chicanery · hoodwink · bamboozle · ruse
Storyline or land parcel
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- cabalScheming political faction
intrigue · conniving · orchestrate · mastermind · co-conspirator · secret deal · backroom deal · setup
Covert information gatherer
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- triple agentSpy playing all sides
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
infiltrator · informant · handler · asset · defection · classified · covert · clandestine
traitor
One who betrays allegiance
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
Judas · sellout · two-timing · disloyalty · treachery · perfidy · faithlessness · unfaithfulness · breach of trust · false friend
con
Argument against
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
trickery · deceit · duplicity · guile · subterfuge · chicanery · hoodwink · bamboozle · ruse · false pretenses
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
cabal · intrigue · conniving · orchestrate · mastermind · co-conspirator · secret deal · backroom deal · setup · frame-up
spy
Covert information gatherer
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- triple agentSpy playing all sides
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
counterintelligence · infiltrator · informant · handler · asset · defection · classified · covert · clandestine · cloak-and-dagger
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- betrayalbackstab, betray, betrayal, traitor, backstabber
- betrayalsbackstabbing, cheating, disloyalty, infidelity, treachery
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- confusing actionsmisleading, misdirecting, obfuscating, muddling, garbling
double-crossinghonest
Free from deception
straightforward · sincere · forthright · aboveboard · on the level