SUBVERT Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

subvert

verb

səb-ˈvərt

Definition of subvert

as in to degrade

to lower in character, dignity, or quality by insisting that she pay me for helping her, she subverted my noble desire to do a good deed without reward

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 subvert There’s a guilty pleasure in subverting a cheesy tourist tee. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026 There’s just something about Pattinson’s intensity and willingness to subvert his movie star image that seems to be perfectly aligned with A24’s hip and transgressive brand. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 27 Sep. 2026 And yet the movie’s central storyline hints at writer-director Bassam Tariq’s inclination to subvert his own brooding-antihero saga, allowing room for unpredictability and the slightest whiff of impish irreverence. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 The familiarity of Havaianas is subverted thanks to MM6 with two unique expressions. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subvert

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subvert

Verb

With so few ancient samples of dodo DNA surviving—and that which does exist having degraded over the centuries—the analytic and number-crunching power of AI is just what’s needed to fill in the genetic blanks.

— Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
The partnership aims to keep the platform connected when military operations disrupt or degrade individual network links.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of degrade

Verb

But while those will provide short-term relief, the currency is expected to weaken toward the end of the year and mid-2027, and a 100 rupee-per-dollar mark could not be ruled out, strategists said.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
However, following his arrest, the owner, Mohammad Khan, blamed this week's rains for weakening one of the roofs, according to police, who said the investigation was still underway.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Rousseau argued that societies were happiest before agriculture and metal production corrupted them.

— Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
Documentarian Alex Gibney is no stranger to dissections of corrupting power — from his feature dives into Enron, Elizabeth Holmes and Scientology.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of corrupt

Verb

Rather than undertaking the difficult but just and moral work of reform of the nation's immigration laws, Vance would destroy and expel their families with a smile, claiming that such actions will save you money.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Running low on fuel, NASA chose to steer Cassini straight into Saturn's atmosphere, where the spacecraft was destroyed.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of destroy

Verb

One of its proof points was supposed to be Maine, where Graham Platner humiliated the party establishment, then himself.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
This caution is surprising in a writer who has elsewhere been fearless about identity and America, attentive to the country’s institutional capacity to humiliate, compromise, and implicate the people who claim it.

— Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

This rousing tribute to the free press, delivered by the son of a journalist, was followed by the world premiere of Danny Boyle’s Ink, a film about how the journalists at British tabloid The Sun ended up debasing our entire society.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
The bulk of these are in regions like Africa and South America, where governments have repeatedly debased national currencies, and prompted their citizens to seek out sturdier assets like Tether’s dollar and gold offerings instead.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of debase

Verb

What researchers uncovered through lab testing and surveillance footage, prosecutors said, was a plot by his fellow graduate student to intentionally poison him.

— Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
May says national polarization is poisoning the atmosphere locally.

— Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of poison

Verb

That’s not unusual — industries typically ask for a seat at the table, the better to steer discussions to their benefit and dilute any resulting rules.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Some French youths, like Lise, are concerned that all the talk about politics or references to the past take away from the present, and dilute the focus of student demands.

— Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of dilute

Browse Nearby Words

subversives

subvert

subverted

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

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Synonyms of subvert

verb

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