pervert 1 of 2

pervert

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verb

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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
Special-guest pervert Frank (Sam Rockwell) showcases a monologue about his autogynephilia. Armond White, National Review, 9 Apr. 2025 Just when things are looking up — a haughty British couple leaves this daughter of Oxfordshire a handsome tip — the dinner pervert turns up for his morning coffee. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
The rule of law has been invoked and perverted in a concerted effort to undermine it. Mark A. Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 The only conspiracy is what Bove and Bondi are engaged in, perverting a prosecution for their political gain. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pervert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pervert
Noun
  • Created by Rob Mac (formerly McElhenney, who also plays the character Mac), the Emmy-deserving series premiered 20 years ago on Aug. 4, 2005, introducing the world to a gang of morally bankrupt degenerates running the least successful bar in Philly, Paddy's Pub.
    James Mercadante, EW.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Novak: The fact that this group of degenerates, these bloodsucking, mass-murdering vampires and wannabe vampires, [could be] so lovable is amazing.
    Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • As business leaders and economists begin to take concerns of an AI bubble more seriously, the proliferation of loose internet bots has become more alarming because of their potential to distort data key to assessing the sustainability and growth of emerging tech companies.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The macula, part of the retina needed for sharp vision, may become distorted, causing blurry sight.
    Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Listers understands how technology can corrupt our leisure activities.
    Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Researchers had previously assumed attackers would need to corrupt a specific percentage of the data, which, for larger models would be millions of documents.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Why this threat matters The Deep Research agent was designed to perform multistep research and summarize online data, but its wide access to third-party apps like Gmail, Google Drive and Dropbox also opened the door to abuse.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
  • He was hit with a massive $50,000 fine for verbally abusing officials back in 2023, and he was slapped with a $14,000 fine for a violent gesture during a game against the Buffalo Bills last season.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • She's been gone for over 20 years, and so to win this for a soap opera, playing a villain, is really wonderful.
    Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Not to mention Elm Street introduced a villain for the ages in Freddy Krueger, an instant icon played by Robert Englund, whose charisma was strong enough to shine through even the thickest makeup.
    Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Ronshausen later said Andrade coerced her into giving him information and misrepresented Uthmeier’s involvement.
    Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
  • That means families and estates have no legal recourse when someone uses AI to humiliate or misrepresent their loved one.
    Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But in 2023, Meloni’s government struck an agreement with Albania – a non-EU country – to build controversial migrant detention centers and subvert the EU agreement.
    Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The ruched toe boxes are another style that playfully subverts the classic loafer design, offering an unfussy ease that helps soften more masculine tailoring.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The paper—supported by Cascale, Textile Exchange and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation—argues that LCAs are often misused across the apparel sector.
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
  • If the guy who runs OpenAI can’t stop his own face from being misused, what chance do the rest of us have?
    Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pervert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pervert. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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