noun

backstabber

BAK-stab

noun

Someone who betrays a friend or colleague who trusted them, usually behind their back.

"She thought her coworker was a friend, until she found out he was a backstabber who took credit for her ideas."

"Nobody in the office trusts him anymore — he's known as a total backstabber."

How to Use Backstabber

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who betrays your trust, especially by acting against you secretly while pretending to be on your side.

Common pairings

a real backstabber call someone a backstabber

backstabbers plural

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She thought her coworker was a friend, until she found out he was a _____ who took credit for her ideas.

A straightforward compound of back + stabber, painting the picture of an attack that comes from behind rather than face-to-face.

jabber blabber grabber