pervert 1 of 2

Definition of pervertnext

pervert

2 of 2

verb

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as in to abuse
to put to a bad or improper use accused of perverting the Internal Revenue Service by using it to harass political opponents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pervert different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of pervert are corrupt, debase, debauch, deprave, and vitiate. While all these words mean "to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character," pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal.

perverted the original goals of the institute

Where would corrupt be a reasonable alternative to pervert?

While the synonyms corrupt and pervert are close in meaning, corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity.

the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

When might debase be a better fit than pervert?

The words debase and pervert can be used in similar contexts, but debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity.

commercialism has debased the holiday

When is debauch a more appropriate choice than pervert?

The meanings of debauch and pervert largely overlap; however, debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence.

the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

When would deprave be a good substitute for pervert?

While in some cases nearly identical to pervert, deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences.

the claim that society is depraved by pornography

In what contexts can vitiate take the place of pervert?

The words vitiate and pervert are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect.

a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pervert
Noun
Tarpley Hitt: Postwar miscreants, several perverts (value-neutral), corporate consolidation, lawsuits, copyright law, knockoffs/fakes, America, lying, dolls. Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025 The Gooneral’s attendees didn’t care that Malone was, from all available evidence, not a gooner at all but rather an unaffiliated, lone-wolf pervert. Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Even more poignant, however, is the Rosemary's Baby angle, where the innocence of childhood is drowned in blood and the notion that a young person reared in a loving environment should develop into a compassionate adult is perverted into unthinkable horror. Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025 The brand, which was based on changing the status quo and perverting common ideas, was a success and Babenzien learned how to build a business. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pervert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pervert
Noun
  • But 16 did, including two found in the human dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra, a region of the brain that degenerates in Parkinson’s disease.
    Freda Kreier, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2026
  • What should be a gripping thriller centered on new, uncharted technology and questionable loyalties degenerates into a jumbled mess.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 27 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • His voice grew distorted as the microphone struggled to contain the decibels.
    Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Black history has been erased and distorted in this country from the beginning.
    Clint Smith, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Over time, these invisible strikes can corrupt data, damage components, and shorten a spacecraft’s life.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
  • In this way at least, the mayor follows in the path of Socrates by corrupting the young.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • These violent online groups have allegedly abused hundreds of mostly female minor victims worldwide, according to Homeland Security Investigations.
    Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Giuffre Roberts became a lightning rod to many people who said they'd been abused or trafficked by Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
    Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Neville includes a clip from a London play about The Beatles that bore the unwieldy title John, Paul, George, Ringo…and Bert, featured some very bad wigs and makeup and, in keeping with the official story, cast McCartney as the villain.
    Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Hollywood did end up telling that story, with Ben Foster portraying the actor as a villain in the 2015 movie The Program, which Armstrong was not a part of.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The case stems from allegations the rooftop solar company materially misrepresented certain terms of power purchase agreements or failed to make adequate disclosures that resulted in consumers being misled.
    Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
  • The president has consistently misrepresented his tariffs, claiming despite evidence to the contrary that foreign governments would pay them and that the revenues would be sufficient to pay down the national debt and give taxpayers a dividend check.
    Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • After all, one of the persistent impulses of modern art has been to antagonize people of correct sensibilities, to subvert their cherished institutions.
    Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
  • While most women figure skaters are known to sport pristine buns and dance to very predictable classics and pop songs, Alysa Liu subverts the norm.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The beleaguered labor secretary had been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security detail on top of misusing her funds.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Claude Code Security builds on over a year of research by the company’s Frontier Red Team, an internal group of about 15 researchers tasked with stress-testing the company’s most advanced AI systems and probing how they might be misused in areas such as cybersecurity.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pervert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pervert. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.

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