perverse

adjective

per·​verse (ˌ)pər-ˈvərs 

ˈpər-ˌvərs

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

perversely adverb

perverseness noun

perversity

pər-ˈvər-sə-tē 

-stē

noun

Synonyms

• irritable
• fiery

Choose the Right Synonym for perverse

contrary, perverse, restive, balky, wayward mean inclined to resist authority or control.

contrary implies a temperamental unwillingness to accept orders or advice.

a contrary child

perverse may imply wrongheaded, determined, or cranky opposition to what is reasonable or normal.

a perverse, intractable critic

restive suggests unwillingness or inability to submit to discipline or follow orders.

tired soldiers growing restive

balky suggests a refusing to proceed in a desired direction or course of action.

a balky witness

wayward suggests strong-willed capriciousness and irregularity in behavior.

a school for wayward youths

Examples of perverse in a Sentence

their perverse cruelty to animals

She has a perverse fascination with death.

He seems to take perverse pleasure in making things as difficult as possible.

His friends all enjoy his perverse sense of humor.

Is this some kind of perverse joke?

Recent Examples on the Web

This is part of the book’s perverse brilliance, its sense of good old-fashioned modernist fun. —Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025

That's such a crazy, perverse notion — on this triumphant night, to see it from the point of view of the guy being left behind in all this. —Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025

If the president had not wasted time floating perverse ideas about real-estate opportunities in Gaza, thousands of Palestinian lives might have been saved, and more of the Israeli hostages would be in the bosom of their families. —Bobby Ghosh, Time, 14 Oct. 2025

The militarization of American cities, including Los Angeles, Portland, and Chicago, has brought home a perverse irony. —Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing perverse

• polymorphous perverse

Rhymes for perverse

• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• disperse
• diverse
• immerse
• inverse
• obverse
• rehearse
• reverse
• transverse

Kids Definition

perverse

adjective

per·​verse (ˌ)pər-ˈvərs 

ˈpər-ˌvərs

1

: morally bad : corrupt

2

: stubborn in opposing what is right, reasonable, or accepted : wrongheaded

3

: irritable, cranky

4

: marked by perversion : perverted

perversely adverb

perverseness noun

Medical Definition

perverse

adjective

per·​verse pər-ˈvərs 

: being, relating to, or characterized by perversion

perverse sexual behavior