perverseness

noun

Definition of perversenessnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perverseness
  1. irritability
  2. perversity
  3. aggression
Noun
  • Heart attacks and strokes occur disproportionately following rejections, and rejected individuals often show symptoms that are typically associated with drug withdrawal, including anxiety, depression, crying, loss of appetite, and irritability.
    — George Loewenstein, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026
  • By day, apnea shows up as the kind of sleepiness coffee cannot fix, morning headaches, trouble concentrating and short-fuse irritability.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritability
Noun
  • Its practice of permitting construction projects at the same time in adjoining areas, causing the most inconvenience to vehicular traffic, wins the award for most perversity.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The movie is essentially an old-fashioned story of one lad’s sentimental education, spiced up with NSFW perversity.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2026
Definition of perversity
Noun
  • Large sections of chairs in the hall were empty as delegations filed out in protest of Iranian aggression.
    — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026
  • These sensual glimmers are no match for the antagonistic sociality of straight male relationships, which, in this novel, quickly convert sympathy or desire into rivalry and aggression.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of aggression
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.

Browse Nearby Words

perverse
perverseness
perversion
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Cite this Entry

“Perverseness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perverseness. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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