PERVERT Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'pervert' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of pervert are corrupt , debase , debauch , deprave , and vitiate . While all these words mean "to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character," pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal. // perverted the original goals of the institute

Q: Where would 'corrupt' be a reasonable alternative to 'pervert'?

While the synonyms corrupt and pervert are close in meaning, corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity. // the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

Q: When might 'debase' be a better fit than 'pervert'?

The words debase and pervert can be used in similar contexts, but debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity. // commercialism has debased the holiday

Q: When is 'debauch' a more appropriate choice than 'pervert'?

The meanings of debauch and pervert largely overlap; however, debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence. // the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

Q: When would 'deprave' be a good substitute for 'pervert'?

While in some cases nearly identical to pervert , deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences. // the claim that society is depraved by pornography

Q: In what contexts can 'vitiate' take the place of 'pervert'?

The words vitiate and pervert are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect. // a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

pervert 1 of 2

noun

ˈpər-ˌvərt

Definition of pervert

as in degenerate

a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard a pervert who, because of years of bad choices, couldn't get a job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

saint

pervert

2 of 2

verb

pər-ˈvərt

as in to distort

to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of that summary really perverts the other candidate's views on taxes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to corrupt

to lower in character, dignity, or quality a movie that perverted the Bible story by reveling in the sinners' lewd behavior until just before the moment of divine retribution

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to abuse

to put to a bad or improper use accused of perverting the Internal Revenue Service by using it to harass political opponents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pervert different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of pervert are corrupt, debase, debauch, deprave, and vitiate. While all these words mean "to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character," pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal.

perverted the original goals of the institute

Where would corrupt be a reasonable alternative to pervert?

While the synonyms corrupt and pervert are close in meaning, corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity.

the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

When might debase be a better fit than pervert?

The words debase and pervert can be used in similar contexts, but debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity.

commercialism has debased the holiday

When is debauch a more appropriate choice than pervert?

The meanings of debauch and pervert largely overlap; however, debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence.

the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

When would deprave be a good substitute for pervert?

While in some cases nearly identical to pervert, deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences.

the claim that society is depraved by pornography

In what contexts can vitiate take the place of pervert?

The words vitiate and pervert are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect.

a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

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 pervert

Noun

Also, what many now interpret as Kubrick’s exposé of elite perverts was, in fact, mostly Schnitzler’s doing. — Lane Brown, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025 The Gooneral’s attendees didn’t care that Malone was, from all available evidence, not a gooner at all but rather an unaffiliated, lone-wolf pervert. — Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Verb

In recent years, drag has been positioned as a cultural lightning rod as part of a right-wing political effort to paint drag artists as depraved actors out to pervert gender norms, especially for children. — David MacK, CNN Money, 10 June 2026 In a statement on Wednesday, authorities said police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption charged the suspects with 25 counts including money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice and tax evasion. — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pervert

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pervert

Noun

But while his recent albums with Tony Seltzer and Subjxct 5 resurfaced some of the dynamism brought by Sporting Life during his younger years as the fire-breathing degenerate who tied Ratking together, that energy takes a backseat here.

— Lei Takanashi, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026
Now playback all the degenerate, violent entertainment Julianne has happily participated in throughout her career.

— Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026

Definition of degenerate

Verb

Nigeria rejected the International Monetary Fund’s finding that the country has engaged in extra-budgetary public spending that distorts its deficit levels, blaming poor interpretation of its financial reporting method for the misunderstanding.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 10 July 2026
Hiding workforce-scale spend in IT line items avoids the conversation; treating it as labor distorts it.

— Priya Sawant, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of distort

Verb

Exploits will trigger guest-side actions alone to corrupt the host kernel’s shadow page, a data structure in the host that assists in the address translation.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026
If religion is corrupted by breaking down the wall of separation, much the same is true of the state.

— Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

Definition of corrupt

Verb

OpenAI says its threat reports draw on its view of how actors try to abuse AI models, often in combination with other platforms and tools.

— Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Four people represented by the ACLU of Tennessee filed a lawsuit in May accusing the task force of abusing the law to block them from documenting officers’ actions, sometimes ordering them to stay more than 100 feet away from arrest scenes.

— Andy Rose, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

Definition of abuse

Noun

There are probably easier ways to mount a crime thriller steeped in gritty realism than centering it on a villain made of gas.

— Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
That doesn’t mean Netherlands players are villains, or anything less than heroes for their country.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of villain

Verb

Alumni contend the investigation is politically motivated and misrepresents the law, aiming to undermine Yale's commitment to diversity.

— Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
While there is certainly a problem with the ubiquity of politicians and business leaders of advanced age, Moyn misrepresents older people and offers solutions that are discriminatory against them.

— Peter Gosselin, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026

Definition of misrepresent

Verb

There must be accountability for Supreme Court justices that have taken part in subverting American democracy.

— Oliver Adams Larkin, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026
Chronicle is one of the best superhero movies of the modern era, subverting many of the genre’s tropes and character types while indulging the right amount of camp and spectacle (and all under 90 minutes).

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

Definition of subvert

Verb

Several more law enforcement officers have been arrested and charged with misusing license plate reader systems this week, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and local officials.

— Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
No company is immune to data breaches or leaks, and there is always the risk that sensitive data will be misused by companies or bad actors.

— Justyn Newman, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026

Definition of misuse

Browse Nearby Words

perversive

pervert

perverted

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pervert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pervert. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of pervert

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on pervert

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulcrum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes