backstabbing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "backstabbing" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe betrayal or disloyalty, often in a personal or professional context. An example: "She felt hurt by the backstabbing of her colleagues during the project." Alternative expressions include "betrayal" and "treachery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Social Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

NO CONSERVATIVE leadership contest would be complete without bribes, backstabbing and treachery.

The Economist

However, she proved able to hold her own as an actress opposite Cary Grant and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., in Gunga Din (1939), a drama concerning bandits in colonial India, and opposite Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer in George Cukor's The Women (1939), a snarky romp featuring infidelity and backstabbing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In reality, you're equally likely to have accrued far more fuel for those fires, with decades of betrayal and backstabbing to draw upon.

Independent

When Ugly Betty (America Ferrara), Gossip Girl (Blake Lively, Gilmore Girll (Alexis Bledel) and some other one go their separate ways for summer, let's hope the pants can help them through teen pregnancies, family rifts, backstabbing rivals and questions of the heart.

Independent

Generally, when the inner workings of Hollywood are shown on screen, for example in A Star Is Born and The Bad and The Beautiful, the studio system is depicted as a hotbed of viciousness, egotism and backstabbing.

Independent

There was a lot of carousing, but there was also a huge amount of backstabbing.

Independent

Herbert's scheming, backstabbing villain, the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, would be perfectly at home among the Lannisters of Westeros.

The New Yorker

Although the IMs did not offer any evidence to support the claim of theft, according to sources who have seen many of the messages, the IMs portray Zuckerberg as backstabbing, conniving, and insensitive.

The New Yorker

The four musicians played their set like a bunch of medium-talent, delusional, backstabbing traitors.

The New Yorker

The chef Tom Colicchio, of Craft, said, "It's refreshing to me to see someone succeed who doesn't think the only way to get ahead is by backstabbing and hiring a publicist and going out there and getting drunk every night and getting on Page Six".

The New Yorker

And those backstabbing bitches waiting to get at the mediocre straight white man the minute it becomes known he is barely lifting a finger but thinking he is lifting the world".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using it as an adjective, ensure it modifies a noun that can perform actions, such as "backstabbing" rivals or "backstabbing" colleagues.

Common error

Avoid using "backstabbing" in strictly formal legal or academic documents where a more precise term like "duplicity" or "fraudulent misrepresentation" is required.

Linguistic Context

In the examples provided by Ludwig, "backstabbing" functions primarily as a gerund (a verbal noun) or a present participle used as an adjective. It describes the act of attacking or betraying someone in a deceitful and secretive manner. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a standard part of modern English vocabulary.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

10%

Social Media

5%

Less common in

Science

1%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "backstabbing" is a powerful linguistic tool used to describe deceit and betrayal within competitive social structures. According to Ludwig examples, the word is an essential component of political journalism and cultural commentary, often appearing alongside terms like "treachery", "infidelity" and "sabotage". While Ludwig AI notes its frequent usage in top-tier publications like The New York Times and The Economist, writers should be mindful of its strong negative tone. It is best used when the intent is to highlight the moral or ethical failure of an individual or the toxicity of a particular environment. For more formal or technical descriptions of deceit, synonyms such as "duplicity" or "perfidy" may be preferred, but "backstabbing" remains the most vivid and common choice for general storytelling and reporting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

betrayal

A more general and formal term for the violation of trust.

treachery

Suggests a more profound or systematic violation of allegiance, often in political contexts.

double-crossing

Specifically refers to deceiving someone after an agreement has been made.

duplicity

A higher-register word emphasizing double-dealing or deceitfulness in speech or conduct.

disloyalty

Focuses on the failure to be faithful to a person, country or cause.

underhandedness

Highlights the secretive and dishonest nature of the actions.

perfidy

A literary and very formal synonym for a deliberate breach of faith.

insidiousness

Refers to a harmful effect that develops gradually and secretly.

bad-mouthing

A more informal term focusing on verbal disparagement behind someone's back.

subversion

Focuses on the attempt to transform an established social order or institution from within.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "backstabbing"?

Depending on the context, you can use more formal alternatives like "betrayal", "treachery" or "duplicity".

How do you use "backstabbing" in a sentence?

It can be used as a noun, for example: "The political campaign was marred by rumors of backstabbing and lies." It can also be an adjective: "He was tired of his backstabbing coworkers."

What is the difference between "backstabbing" and betrayal?

"betrayal" is a broad term for any breach of trust, while "backstabbing" specifically implies a stealthy or sneaky act of harm done while pretending to be a friend or ally.

Is "backstabbing" considered a formal word?

It is widely used in high-quality journalism like The New York Times, but it remains a descriptive, emotionally charged word. For academic writing, consider "perfidy" or "insidious behavior".