subvert

verb

sub·​vert səb-ˈvərt 

subverted; subverting; subverts

transitive verb

1

: to overturn or overthrow from the foundation : ruin

2

: to pervert or corrupt by an undermining of morals, allegiance, or faith

subverter noun

Synonyms

• degrade
• weaken
• corrupt
• destroy
• humiliate
• debase
• poison
• dilute
• pervert
• deteriorate
• demean
• ruin
• bastardize

Examples of subvert in a Sentence

They conspired to subvert the government.

trying to subvert the electoral process

Recent Examples on the Web

The indictment centered around a call Trump placed to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) following his 2020 election defeat to then-candidate Joe Biden, which Willis used as a springboard to claim Trump sought to subvert the election in the state. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2025

In fact, if there is a strong case against Cook, then Trump’s clumsy interference could subvert his own Justice Department, which may have been ready to indict Cook based on the FHFA referral. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025

But even those who might seek to subvert that tone, or invoke it ironically, are negotiating the same conventions. —Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025

But they are built on improving, rather than subverting, what players expect from a genre. —G Kirilloff, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French subvertir, from Latin subvertere, literally, to turn from beneath, from sub- + vertere to turn — more at worth

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for subvert

• alert
• assert
• avert
• dessert
• divert
• evert
• exert
• inert
• insert
• invert
• nightshirt
• overt

Kids Definition

subvert

verb

sub·​vert səb-ˈvərt 

1

: to overturn or overthrow from the foundation

2

: to undermine the morals, allegiance, or faith of : corrupt

subverter noun