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

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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

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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

You are being spied on by a pervert. — Jay Ruttenberg, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026 Then, about refocusing our attention on the challenges ahead, like pervert incentives and algorithms that aren’t in line with human flourishing. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 13 Jan. 2026

Verb

This quality has been perverted and exaggerated in Maddie’s Secret. — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 11 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for pervert

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pervert

Noun

Takeshita came across a vaunted screwdriver in the ring as Don Callis hypocritically called him a degenerate.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of degenerate

Verb

In the twenty-tens, modern investigations made clear that the work was in danger of becoming distorted by this display, which would need to be redesigned.

— John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
However, landmasses are greatly distorted toward the poles, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere.

— Jewel Bright, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of distort

Verb

This may then seem like yet another story about how Trump has wrecked norms and corrupted the rule of law.

— James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Instead, in trying to explain what made both Murdoch and Lamb tick in those early days, Boyle and Graham show us just how intoxicating and corrupting this kind of success can be.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of corrupt

Noun

There are no villains in Possible Love; there are only people who are aware of others, and people who are not.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
The former Democratic speaker was the longtime villain, a mainstay in ads as Republicans linked Democratic candidates to her to paint them as radical and out of touch.

— James A. Downs, The Washington Examiner, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of villain

Verb

Bohm’s lawsuit, which was filed in Philadelphia County on March 25, alleged Daniel and Lisa committed financial impropriety while running limited liability companies on his behalf and misrepresented their stakes in those entities.

— Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
The lawsuit claimed State Farm violated state code over its practices toward additional living expense coverage, including by misrepresenting the terms of such coverage and by paying late.

— Paris Barraza, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of misrepresent

Verb

Bangladeshi cinema has been equally insistent on subverting patriarchal stereotypes.

— Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
The film’s procedural aspect ticks along just fine, holding the attention without subverting expectations, and carried by actors who, much like the detectives in this case, are ultra-capable professionals with no inclination to go rogue on us.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of subvert

Verb

In Georgia, more than two dozen law enforcement officers have been accused of misusing Flock camera databases to conduct non-investigative searches, and in some cases stalk and harass citizens in their communities.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Across the country, a slew of law enforcement officers have been investigated for misusing Flock cameras for personal reasons, according to a USA Today report last month.

— Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of misuse

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perversive

pervert

perverted

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Style

“Pervert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pervert. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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