1
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
how can you be so cheerful one day, and so perverse the next?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
social conservatives who believe that Hollywood is a perverse world that exerts an unhealthy influence on the young
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
a fact so self-evident that not even the most perverse of opponents could deny it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
a convicted criminal seemed like a perverse choice for a bank employee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 perverse
Voters must understand that the college affordability crisis was engineered by perverse incentives and that free-market reforms can help restore sanity to the system.
—
Neetu Arnold, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
There’s a perverse streak of what is either Hollywood metacommentary or simple cruelty in the fact that The Beauty has cast actors whom the industry might consider unappealing, then recast them with other, hotter actors once the Beauty takes hold.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
His appreciation of cinema harks back to one of the rare good memories of his father, who once took him to the movies to cheer him up after an episode of perverse cruelty from his mother.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
But the campaign against Good is different—because The Homeland takes particular and perverse interest in women deemed insufficiently reverent of hearth and home.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perverse
Neetu Arnold, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
There’s a perverse streak of what is either Hollywood metacommentary or simple cruelty in the fact that The Beauty has cast actors whom the industry might consider unappealing, then recast them with other, hotter actors once the Beauty takes hold.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
His appreciation of cinema harks back to one of the rare good memories of his father, who once took him to the movies to cheer him up after an episode of perverse cruelty from his mother.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
But the campaign against Good is different—because The Homeland takes particular and perverse interest in women deemed insufficiently reverent of hearth and home.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perverse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perverse
Adjective
-
Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems, including feeling more irritable.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
-
On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The corrupt a-s psychopath prosecutors’ office.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The film stars Jake Busey (Stranger Things) as Dirk, a corrupt cop who partners with an eager, broke assistant named Jeff Klima, played by Felix Merback (Blood Star).—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
One person refuses to bow — not an army, not a revolution, one stubborn Jew minding his own business — and Haman cannot function.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Scrub gently with a soft sponge or brush, focusing on stubborn areas.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
After Clark stepped down on Tuesday because an internal investigation unearthed an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, the union announced on Wednesday that Meyer will take over on an interim basis entering a pivotal year for the future of the sport.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The Russia date has sparked backlash from fans, who argue that performing in Moscow during Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine is inappropriate.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The footage shows members of the divided House Targaryen going into battle, with plenty of fiery dragon action.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Where was my fiery disdain when ICE invaded (and is still invading) Portland, Chicago, and Los Angeles last year?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
On top of that, particles from tire wear, litter, and degraded plastics elsewhere can settle out of the air or arrive with runoff.—
Dr. Avishesh Neupane,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Problems with insulation can be caused by freezes due to the freeze-thaw cycle, which can lead to degraded insulation.—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Despite the heartbreaking details surrounding Dane’s death and his disease, Dempsey was adamant about remembering Dane before his ALS diagnosis.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
20 Feb. 2026
-
My dad was clear and adamant that his choice was to stay in Minneapolis.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet complaints of improper and fraudulent enrollment have surged since the pandemic.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
-
These symptoms can indicate bacterial or fungal problems, pests, or improper care like too much or too little water.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perverse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perverse. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
