conversion therapy
noun
plural conversion therapies
: the use of any of various methods (such as aversive stimulation or religious counseling) in an attempt to change a person's sexual orientation to heterosexual or to change a person's gender identity to correspond to the sex the person was identified as having at birth
Note: Conversion therapy is generally regarded as having no scientific basis and as being both ineffective and harmful.
Conversion therapy is both pointless and painful. At its best, it can inflict considerable psychological damage on a child without changing their sexual orientation or gender identity whatsoever. At its worst, it can lead to suicide …—
Samantha Allen
Samantha AllenMomentum has been building in legislative sessions this spring for the bans, which prohibit state-licensed mental health professionals from practicing conversion therapy for anyone under 18.—Susan Miller
Susan Millercalled also reparative therapy
Examples of conversion therapy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2023, the Court declined to take up a case challenging a ban on conversion therapy for children in Washington.
—Jenna Sundel
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
The Wisconsin Supreme Court cleared the way yesterday for the state to permanently enact a ban on conversion therapy in a ruling that gives the governor more power over how state laws are enacted.
—Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
In a blow to the power of the Legislature, the Wisconsin Supreme Court limited a key committee’s ability to block state rules, allowing Gov. Tony Evers to institute a ban on conversion therapy that the Legislature had stopped.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025
House Bill 495, sponsored by Republican Rep. David Hale, would invalidate Beshear's 2024 order banning the use of state and federal funds on conversion therapy for minors.
—Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for conversion therapy
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.
Jenna Sundel
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
The Wisconsin Supreme Court cleared the way yesterday for the state to permanently enact a ban on conversion therapy in a ruling that gives the governor more power over how state laws are enacted.
—Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
In a blow to the power of the Legislature, the Wisconsin Supreme Court limited a key committee’s ability to block state rules, allowing Gov. Tony Evers to institute a ban on conversion therapy that the Legislature had stopped.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025
House Bill 495, sponsored by Republican Rep. David Hale, would invalidate Beshear's 2024 order banning the use of state and federal funds on conversion therapy for minors.
—Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for conversion therapy
Cite this Entry
“Conversion therapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conversion%20therapy. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share