subversion

noun

sub·ver·sion | \ səb-ˈvər-zhən

, -shən \

Definition of subversion

1 : the act of subverting : the state of being subverted especially : a systematic attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working secretly from within

2 obsolete : a cause of overthrow or destruction

Other Words from subversion Did you know? Example Sentences Phrases Containing subversion Learn More About subversion

Other Words from subversion

subversionary \ səb-ˈvər-zhə-ˌner-ē

, -shə- \ adjective

subversive \ səb-ˈvər-siv

, -ziv \ adjective or noun

subversively adverb

subversiveness noun

Did you know?

Subversion is literally the "turning over" of something. In the 1950s and '60s, many people worried about communist subversion of the U.S. government, though they often saw subversive activities where none existed. Nondemocratic governments often claim that anyone who disagrees with them or joins a demonstration is a subversive. But subversion isn't always quite so serious a matter; when words like weekend, sandwich, job, *and *camping started being used by the French, for example, some of them began claiming that America was subverting their language.

Examples of subversion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Still, non-traditional proposals have hardly become normalised, with many still uncomfortable with the subversion of traditional gender roles. — Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 19 July 2022 Several of its members were charged with subversion under the security law and some of its core figures, including former lawmakers, have been given prison sentences over charges of unauthorized assembly. — Jessie Yeung, CNN, 3 June 2022 The sweeping national security laws punish acts of subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorism with possible life imprisonment. — The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2021 Ding Jiaxi, a human rights lawyer and co-founder of the New Citizens Movement, will stand trial at the same court in Linshu county, Shandong province, on Friday on subversion charges, his wife said on Twitter. — Cnn Staff, CNN, 22 June 2022 During his 21-year-regime, his administration had 70,000 peope detained on subversion charges, and killed and tortured thousands more, according to Amnesty International. — Carlie Porterfield, Forbes, 13 May 2022 But experts warn that the risk of future election subversion is dire enough to necessitate reform, even if other voting rights measures are unable to pass in Congress. — Grace Segers, The New Republic, 26 Jan. 2022 The idea of the debate was to underscore Republican refusal to deal with what Democrats insist is election subversion and voter suppression in states across the country. — Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2022 Legal scholar and activist Xu Zhiyong, here in 2013, is expected to face trial soon on subversion charges. — Chao Deng, WSJ, 19 Jan. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'subversion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Learn More About subversion

Dictionary Entries Near subversion

sub verbo

subversion

subversivism

Statistics for subversion

Last Updated

29 Jul 2022

Cite this Entry

“Subversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subversion. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for subversion

subversion

noun

sub·ver·sion | \ səb-ˈvər-zhən

Legal Definition of subversion

: a systematic attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working from within also : the crime of committing acts in furtherance of such an attempt

Other Words from subversion

subversionary \ -zhə-ˌner-ē

\ adjective

subversive \ -ˈvər-siv

\ adjective or noun

subversively adverb

subversiveness noun