as in rebel
someone who tries to overthrow or undermine a governing power
They were outted as subversives and exiled from the country.
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as in violent
seeking to overthrow or undermine a governing power
A subversive organization determined to unseat a leader who they believed operated outside the law.
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversive
Noun
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According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, last year was the worst year yet for peace in the country since a 2016 deal was struck between the FARC, Colombia’s largest rebel group, and the Colombian state.—
Ladan Anoushfar,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025 -
In 2024, a group of UN experts said that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside the rebels.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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But Over-the-Rhine and Downtown have seen an uptick in violent crime.—
Brenda Ordonez,
The Enquirer,
21 Aug. 2025
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Coleman said about 175 people convicted of violent crimes that took place before the law's effective date who had not yet been sentenced could have been eligible for early release.—
Lucas Aulbach,
The Courier-Journal,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But as the threat of insurgents has receded abroad, the Trump administration has brought these tactics home.—
Time,
Time,
8 Aug. 2025
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On the one hand, there is the prospect of insurgents who can field swarms of armed drones.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Anchoring the revitalization of Panama City’s historic center and creating arguably the first luxury property of its kind in the city, Hotel La Compañía has felt nothing less than revolutionary from the start.—
Carley Rojas Ávila,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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These settlements were built on land owned and governed by Black people, a revolutionary act in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In season 1, Elliot is recruited by a mysterious anarchist who calls himself Mr. Robot, who leads a team of hacker activists known as fsociety.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
4 July 2025
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While nature was variously defined by different anarchists, most agreed that human nature ought to guide civilization and that human beings are basically good, intrinsically capable of harmony.—
Ben Woollard,
JSTOR Daily,
18 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Subversive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversive. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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