subversion

noun

Definition of subversionnext
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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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 subversion And because of that canon, Tapert and Raimi are there to ensure that any subversions don’t go too far astray. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Bright says this reimagining and subversion of expectations fits neatly with her team’s vision. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 June 2026 In my fiction, my grandfather was no longer an inscrutable ghost, but a character with definable flaws, who did things in an order that, despite whatever twists and subversions, resolved into meaning. — Literary Hub, 10 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for subversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversion
  1. sabotage
  2. insurrection
  3. treason
  4. rebellion
  5. unrest
  6. treachery
Noun
  • Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in acts of sabotage in Europe.
    — Dasha Litvinova, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • The goal was to find and fix the vulnerabilities before hackers and adversarial governments like China began using similar tools to find and exploit them for espionage and sabotage.
    — Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 29 July 2026
Definition of sabotage
Noun
  • The disparities from slavery to Jim Crow continue to haunt Black life and have fueled Black insurrection.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
  • Commentators such as Canadian journalist and filmmaker Paul Jay, founder and former CEO of The Real News Network, have described the 2021 insurrection as a dry run for future attempts to subvert American democracy.
    — James Robenalt, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026
Definition of insurrection
Noun
  • Alfred Dreyfus, whose wrongful 19th century treason conviction exposed deeply rooted anti-Jewish bias in France.
    — Masha Macpherson, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • What constitutes treason is emerging as an early theme of House of the Dragon’s third season.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Definition of treason
Noun
  • In April 2012, a coalition of Tuareg rebel groups under the Coordination of Azawad Movements declared independence and sparked a rebellion alongside Islamic militants.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • Many employers double down on rigid return-to-office rules, surveillance and gimmicks, even as workers fight back with coffee badging, ghost bookings and other quiet rebellions.
    — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of rebellion
Noun
  • The killing sparked nationwide unrest, with cartel members erecting highway blockades and setting fire to vehicles and buildings across 20 Mexican states.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Haiti is on the State Department’s do not travel list — owing to such hazards as crime, kidnapping, terrorism and unrest.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of unrest
Noun
  • Guides spoke of the monthlong siege that ended only because of the treachery of a local noble who turned on the sultan and allowed British troops to scale the walls.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 2 July 2026
  • This is not treachery but the truest and noblest affection.
    — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Definition of treachery

Browse Nearby Words

subventions
subversion
subversions
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Cite this Entry

“Subversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversion. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on subversion

Nglish: Translation of subversion for Spanish Speakers

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