as in irritability
readiness to show annoyance or impatience
the kind of perverseness that makes you want to snap at anyone who makes the mistake of greeting you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perverseness
Noun
-
Postpartum depression, per Mayo Clinic, includes symptoms such as depressed mood, difficulty bonding with your baby, changes in appetite, intense irritability and more.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026 -
The result can appear not only as exhaustion, but also irritability, decreased concentration, emotional numbing, sleep disruption, and heightened anxiety.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
From top to bottom, this administration embodies the perversity, ignorance and belligerence of its leader.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
-
His shrieking reactions to his wife’s savagery throw into relief his good nature and her perversity.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In Game 1, Montreal exploited that aggression, too quickly breaking the forecheck and starting the transition game, too frequently slipping past the Hurricanes’ defensemen for odd-man rushes.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
-
Historically, in situations involving large numbers of dogs, rescue teams have reported the animals to be agitated, stressed and fearful of human interaction (resulting in shyness or aggression).—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Perverseness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perverseness. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
