as in sabotage
secret efforts to weaken or ruin a political system or government from within
They were arrested on charges of political subversion.
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Recent Examples of subversion
Leaflets, filled with anti-government propaganda, soon emerged as the group’s newest, and boldest, tactic at subversion.
—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
There’s also been a little bit of leaning into it on some ends in entertainment, and an inversion or subversion of it in other ends.
—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
15 May 2026
How would the subversion of November’s election take place?
—
Mark Barabak,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Those who’ve been targeted and their allies view the practice as both a pressure tactic in which reputational sabotage is weaponized, as well as a subversion of the legal process itself.
—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
There’s also been a little bit of leaning into it on some ends in entertainment, and an inversion or subversion of it in other ends.
—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
15 May 2026
How would the subversion of November’s election take place?
—
Mark Barabak,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Those who’ve been targeted and their allies view the practice as both a pressure tactic in which reputational sabotage is weaponized, as well as a subversion of the legal process itself.
—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversion
Noun
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The suspect, a Russian citizen whose name wasn't released, is being investigated on suspicion of being an accessory to violating investment rules in Germany's foreign trade law and an accessory to attempted anticonstitutional sabotage, prosecutors said in a statement.
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The reason this reads as sabotage to leadership is that leadership is looking at the wrong dashboard.
Noun
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Egyptian army chief General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi led the insurrection after weeks of widespread national protests.
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Penn, known for his strong political convictions, previously attended a public hearing of the House select committee investigating the deadly 2021 insurrection.
Noun
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For example, French Marshal Henri Petain was showered with ticker tape in 1931 and later convicted of treason for heading the Vichy government that collaborated with the Nazis during World War II.
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War complicates the domestic front, turning any dissent into treason.
Noun
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The Battle of the Alamo was one of the most monumental conflicts of the Texas Revolution, a rebellion that ended in Texas becoming independent from Mexico and establishing itself as a republic for nearly a decade before US statehood.
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In the press release for the album, you were quoted using the word rebellion when talking about rock and roll.
Noun
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Haiti also did it without playing a single qualifying match in Haiti because of unrest.
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Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party retained its large parliamentary majority in recent elections overshadowed by unrest in Africa’s second-most-populous country.
Noun
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This is not treachery but the truest and noblest affection.
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Peacock’s adventures in treachery The Traitors was the top dog, scoring five prizes including Best Competition Series and Best Host for Alan Cumming.
Cite this Entry
“Subversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversion. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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