1
as in degradation
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
claimed that rap and rock music were responsible for the perversion of the nation's young people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misuse
incorrect or improper use
if there's a hidden charge for the service, then that's a perversion of the word "free"
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perversion
Those who place responsibility on individuals and employers saw the ACA as perversion of the government’s purpose.
—
Robert Applebaum, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
While the bad clown—a horror staple—might seem like a perversion of a wholesome form of entertainment historically meant for children, the clown in popular culture has always been subversive.
—Time, 30 Oct. 2025
After months marked by corruption, violence, and the open perversion of law, to gasp in outrage at the loss of a few tons of masonry and mortar might seem oddly misjudged.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Empsall’s small church offers classes on Christian resistance to fascism and how to reject White Christian nationalism as a perversion of Christianity.
—Liam Adams, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perversion
Robert Applebaum, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
While the bad clown—a horror staple—might seem like a perversion of a wholesome form of entertainment historically meant for children, the clown in popular culture has always been subversive.
—Time, 30 Oct. 2025
After months marked by corruption, violence, and the open perversion of law, to gasp in outrage at the loss of a few tons of masonry and mortar might seem oddly misjudged.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Empsall’s small church offers classes on Christian resistance to fascism and how to reject White Christian nationalism as a perversion of Christianity.
—Liam Adams, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perversion
Noun
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But the Longwood bear’s girth illustrates both the natural world’s resilience and its degradation.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
However, the degradation efficiency of individual Bacillus strain and the single-enzyme system remains limited.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
3 May 2026
Noun
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But your committee chair is begging for it to be extended and saying there's no misuse of it.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
-
Warren Fairley — who took over for a short stint as Boilermakers president in 2023 after its executive council ousted longtime leader Jones over misuse of union funds — and Jones’ son, Cullen Jones, are scheduled for sentencing on June 30.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
Noun
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Years later, drawn into a covert network of operatives and manipulated through a web of corruption, Clay must decide whether to become the weapon he was shaped to be or dismantle the system from within.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
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He was also charged in another foreign corruption case in the same court in late 2024.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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These kind of abuses mean that the department isn't going after oil companies that are price gouging.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
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Under any other president, DOJ’s recent activity would represent an astonishing abuse of power.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perversion. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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