backstabber

B3A1C3K5S1T1A1B3B3E1R1
/ˈbækˌstæbɚ/

noun

A traitor or hypocrite, such as a co-worker or friend assumed trustworthy but who figuratively attacks when one's back is turned.

Similar
double-crossersnake in the grassbetrayercockatricequislingratratterrecreant
Opposite
backstabbee
RareScrabble 23
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounbackstabber (plural backstabbers)

plural backstabbers

  1. A traitor or hypocrite, such as a co-worker or friend assumed trustworthy but who figuratively attacks when one's back is turned.

    Synonyms: double-crosser, snake in the grass, betrayer, cockatrice, double-crosser, quisling, rat, ratter · Antonyms: backstabbee

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA traitor or hypocrite, such as a co-worker or friend assumed trustworthy but who figuratively attacks when one's back is turned.

Similar
double-crossersnake in the grassbetrayercockatricedouble-crosserquislingratratterrecreantrenegadeserpentsnakesnake in the grassswiketraitortreachertreacherertreasonistturntippet
Opposite
backstabbee
Also see
betrayerdouble-crosserdouble-dealerquislingratrecreantrenegaderenegaderserpentsnakesnake in the grassswiketraitortreachertreacherertreasonistturntippetwithersakewolf in sheep's clothing

Origin

From back + stabber.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian скрита опасност
  • скрита опасност (skrita opasnost)a traitor or hypocrite
Chinese Mandarin 负心人
  • 负心人 (fùxīnrén)a traitor or hypocrite
Dutch matennaaier, NSB'er
  • matennaaiera traitor or hypocrite
  • NSB'era traitor or hypocrite
Finnish liero, selkäänpuukottaja
  • lieroa traitor or hypocrite
  • selkäänpuukottajaa traitor or hypocrite
  • petturia traitor or hypocrite
French hypocrite, serpent
  • hypocritea traitor or hypocrite
  • serpenta traitor or hypocrite
  • faux jetona traitor or hypocrite
  • faux frèrea traitor or hypocrite
German Verräter
  • Verrätera traitor or hypocrite
Greek φίδι
  • φίδι (fídi)a traitor or hypocrite
Hindi आस्तीन का सांप
  • आस्तीन का सांप (āstīn kā sāmp)a traitor or hypocrite
Icelandic eiturnaðra, rógberi
  • eiturnaðraa traitor or hypocrite
  • rógberia traitor or hypocrite
  • slanga í paradísa traitor or hypocrite
Indonesian munafik
  • munafika traitor or hypocrite
Italian ipocrita
  • ipocritaa traitor or hypocrite
Japanese 裏切り者
  • 裏切り者 (uragirimono)a traitor or hypocrite
Polish żmija
  • żmijaa traitor or hypocrite
Russian змея́ подколо́дная
  • змея́ подколо́дная (zmejá podkolódnaja)a traitor or hypocrite
Spanish traidor, mosca muerta
  • traidora traitor or hypocrite
  • mosca muertaa traitor or hypocrite
  • mosquita muertaa traitor or hypocrite
Cite this entry
APA

backstabber. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backstabber

MLA

“backstabber.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backstabber. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “backstabber,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backstabber.

Source: backstabber on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.