perverse

per·verse

adjective \(ˌ)pər-ˈvərs, ˈpər-ˌ\

Definition of PERVERSE

1

a : turned away from what is right or good : corrupt

b : improper, incorrect

c : contrary to the evidence or the direction of the judge on a point of law <perverse verdict>

2

a : obstinate in opposing what is right, reasonable, or accepted : wrongheaded

b : arising from or indicative of stubbornness or obstinacy

3

: marked by peevishness or petulance : cranky

4

: marked by perversion

— per·verse·ly adverb

— per·verse·ness noun

— per·ver·si·ty \pər-ˈvər-sə-tē, -stē\ noun

Examples of PERVERSE

1. their perverse cruelty to animals
2. She has a perverse fascination with death.
3. He seems to take perverse pleasure in making things as difficult as possible.
4. His friends all enjoy his perverse sense of humor.
5. Is this some kind of perverse joke?

Origin of PERVERSE

Middle English, from Anglo-French purvers, pervers, from Latin perversus, from past participle of pervertere

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PERVERSE

Synonyms

choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, crotchety, fiery, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, peevish, irritable, pettish, petulant, prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky, snippety, snippy, stuffy, testy, waspish

Antonyms

pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted

Related Words

bearish, bilious, cantankerous, cross-grained, curmudgeonly, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, off-color (or off-colored), ornery, querulous, snarly, surly; argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, disputatious, fractious, fretful, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent; huffy, pouty, sensitive, short, sulky, sullen, tetchy, thin-skinned, touchy; hot-blooded, passionate

Near Antonyms

affable, companionable, cordial, extroverted (also extraverted), friendly, genial, gregarious, outgoing, sociable; agreeable, amiable, good-natured, good-tempered, sweet, well-disposed; carefree, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, relaxed; forbearing, long-suffering, obliging, patient, stoic (or stoical), tolerant, uncomplaining, understanding

See Synonym Discussion at contrary

Rhymes with PERVERSE

adverse, amerce, asperse, averse, coerce, commerce, converse, cutpurse, disburse, disperse, diverse, dry nurse, free verse, immerse, inverse, Nez Percé, obverse, rehearse, reverse, scrub nurse, sesterce, submerse, transverse, traverse, wet nurse

per·verse

adjective \pər-ˈvərs\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of PERVERSE

: being, relating to, or characterized by perversion <perverse sexual behavior>