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 of subvert

• 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 filmmakers join the latest edition of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast to discuss their approach to the documentary, which subverts traditional nature films by adopting the bears’ point of view. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026

Rendering bugs allowed attackers to subvert the chain of trust UEFI enforces and go on to install malicious components before the OS loaded or Secure Boot ran. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026

Where Bikini Kill’s raw, aggressive, discordant tunes subvert gender expectations imposed on women, Uppity’s sincere and introspective jams refute the self-defeating emotional sterility that patriarchy demands from men. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

The Grace twist exists solely as a way to subvert the expectations of viewers who have seen the first movie. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

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