A woman who seduces and betrays a man; a temptress or unfaithful lover (from the biblical figure Delilah).
Hebrew name 'Delilah' (possibly meaning 'the delicate one' or 'the poor'), famous from the biblical story of Samson and Delilah in the Book of Judges, where she betrays him to the Philistines.
One biblical story was so famous that 'Delilah' became a common noun—it's one of the few names to cross into regular vocabulary as a character archetype, joining words like 'mentor' (from Homer's Odyssey) as mythology that became language.
Delilah's biblical narrative centers her as a seductress who betrays Samson, establishing the archetype of the treacherous woman. This framing, repeated across centuries of art and literature, reduced her agency to a cautionary tale about female deception.
When referencing the biblical figure, acknowledge the limited perspective of the source text. In metaphorical use, avoid applying 'delilah' as a trope for women who betray or seduce.
["betrayer (gender-neutral)","tempter (gender-neutral)","use character's full context"]
Delilah's own motivations—resistance to colonial occupation, economic survival—were erased by the narrative that centered male vulnerability instead.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.