perverted

adjective

per·​vert·​ed pər-ˈvər-təd 

1

: corrupt

2

: marked by perversion

pervertedly adverb

pervertedness noun

Synonyms

• corrupt
• debased
• debauched
• decadent
• degenerate
• degraded
• demoralized
• depraved
• dissipated
• dissolute
• jackleg
• libertine
• loose
• perverse
• rakehell
• rakehelly
• rakish
• reprobate
• sick
• unclean
• unwholesome
• warped

Examples of perverted in a Sentence

He took a perverted pleasure in watching them suffer.

the perverted values of a society that had taken permissiveness to the extreme

Recent Examples on the Web

These were the years in which capitalism shed its pitiless light on the absurd British soul, with its deep striations of caste and station, its postcolonial taint, most of all its perverted emotional core, full of love and loathing for its own extremes of domination and servitude. —Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025

But, even at its most perverted, Shadow of the Erdtree handles motherhood like nuclear energy. —Ashley Bardhan, Vulture, 5 July 2024

Otherwise, things can get dicey, spending all day filming bloodied bodies posed in perverted Biblical poses. —William Earl, Variety, 26 Sep. 2024

In Posobiec’s perverted presentation, children were eaten as well as raped. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for perverted

• adverted
• alerted
• asserted
• averted
• concerted
• converted
• deserted
• diverted
• everted
• exerted
• exserted
• inserted

Kids Definition

perverted

adjective

per·​vert·​ed pər-ˈvərt-əd 

: marked by perversion

Medical Definition

perverted

adjective

: marked by abnormality or perversion

perverted pancreatic function

relieve concepts or fears of perverted sexual interest

—W. H. Masters & V. E. Johnson