perverse

1 of 2

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

perversity

2 of 2

noun

per·​ver·​si·​ty |sətē 

-ətē, 

-i

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being perverse

some sort of perversity in our souls

—D. H. Lawrence

2

: an instance of perversity

in spite of a hundred perversities

—C. E. Montague

one of the ironic perversities that often attend the course of affairs

—John Dewey

Synonyms of perverse

Adjective

• 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

Adjective

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

Adjective

Yet elsewhere in the book Hirschman acknowledged that breaking from the team, however courageous, can have perverse consequences, especially in organizations responsible for the provision of public goods like education and crime prevention. — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

He’s crafted a propulsive, simultaneously terrifying and hilarious thrill ride that showcases both his cinematic chops and perverse sense of humor. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026

Anyone who stands in front of De Kooning’s urgent, sensuously greedy drawings, with their writhing contours, cacophonous colors, and perverse processes, can feel the force of that craving. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026

After all, there’s a perverse thrill in watching characters act on selfish impulses, torment a goody-two-shoes, and go a little mad with power. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun

Latin perversitas, from perversus perverse + -itas -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

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