Library / English Dictionary

SUBVERT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Destroy completely

Example:

we must not let our civil liberties be subverted by the current crisis

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "subvert" is one way to...):

destroy; ruin (destroy completely; damage irreparably)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

subversion (the act of subverting; as overthrowing or destroying a legally constituted government)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause the downfall of; of rulers

Example:

subvert the ruling class

Synonyms:

bring down; overthrow; overturn; subvert

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "subvert" is one way to...):

depose; force out (force to leave (an office))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "subvert"):

revolutionize (overthrow by a revolution, of governments)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

subversion (the act of subverting; as overthrowing or destroying a legally constituted government)

subversive (in opposition to a civil authority or government)

subverter (a radical supporter of political or social revolution)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Destroy property or hinder normal operations

Example:

The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war

Synonyms:

counteract; countermine; sabotage; subvert; undermine; weaken

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "subvert" is one way to...):

disobey (refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "subvert"):

derail (cause to run off the tracks)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality

Example:

corrupt the morals

Synonyms:

corrupt; debase; debauch; demoralise; demoralize; deprave; misdirect; pervert; profane; subvert; vitiate

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "subvert" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "subvert"):

carnalise; carnalize; sensualise; sensualize (debase through carnal gratification)

infect (corrupt with ideas or an ideology)

lead astray; lead off (teach immoral behavior to)

poison (spoil as if by poison)

bastardise; bastardize (change something so that its value declines; for example, art forms)

suborn (incite to commit a crime or an evil deed)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

subversion (destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity)

Credits