subversion

noun

Definition of subversionnext
as in sabotage
secret efforts to weaken or ruin a political system or government from within They were arrested on charges of political subversion.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subversion This Friday, the leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance who organized those vigils — Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho — will be sentenced for incitement to subversion. — Rowena He, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2026 Part bildungsroman, part romance, Doran’s fizzy yet intelligent interpretation is as self-assured as its protagonist, with anachronistic flourishes that pay homage to Sybylla’s spirit of subversion. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026 Mann delivers a fascinating subversion of the genre, anchored by a riveting Caan performance and some of the most specific set design and camerawork of the director’s career. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026 Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were charged in September 2021 with inciting subversion and face a maximum jail term of 10 years if convicted. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversion
  1. sabotage
  2. insurrection
  3. treason
  4. rebellion
  5. unrest
Noun
  • The odds are not in her favor, owing as much to the industry’s profound systemic inequities as to Misty’s own penchant for self-sabotage.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Rubio warned that Russia’s war in Ukraine could widen into sabotage targeting NATO countries, turning a conflict between two nations into a broader regional crisis.
    — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of sabotage
Noun
  • How is the Schaumburg Democrat grappling with that fateful outcome, while preparing to depart Congress after 10 tumultuous years, which included a pandemic, an insurrection and impeachment proceedings?
    — Marni Pyke, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The film argues that those foundational principles — along with the amendment’s prohibition against those who engage in insurrection serving as heads of state — have come under unprecedented pressure in recent years.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of insurrection
Noun
  • When a pair of Israeli filmmakers released a documentary last month about civilian deaths in Gaza, party leaders across the spectrum, including Eisenkot, accused them of treason.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In 1990, senior West German counterintelligence official Klaus Kuron was ​exposed as a Stasi spy and later convicted of treason.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of treason
Noun
  • At this point, my rebellion had evolved to become more than just a quiet resistance.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In such trivial moments of rebellion, the seeds of resistance are sown.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of rebellion
Noun
  • The island, known for its luxury beach resorts, last experienced similar unrest in 1999, when the death of a popular musician in police custody sparked days of rioting.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Israel and Western countries then boycotted its government, fueling months of unrest and fighting that led to the Hamas takeover of Gaza the next year.
    — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of unrest

Browse Nearby Words

subventions
subversion
subversions
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Cite this Entry

“Subversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversion. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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