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 In a period defined by government crackdowns on free speech, technological data mining and increasing 1st Amendment lawsuit filings, workshop attendees may use samizdat as a means of subversion. — Miranda Huang, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 This Friday, the leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance who organized those vigils — Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho — will be sentenced for incitement to subversion. — Rowena He, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2026 Part bildungsroman, part romance, Doran’s fizzy yet intelligent interpretation is as self-assured as its protagonist, with anachronistic flourishes that pay homage to Sybylla’s spirit of subversion. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026 Mann delivers a fascinating subversion of the genre, anchored by a riveting Caan performance and some of the most specific set design and camerawork of the director’s career. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversion
  1. sabotage
  2. insurrection
  3. treason
  4. rebellion
  5. unrest
Noun
  • Neither seems ready to compromise at a time when Poland faces growing security threats – with the war across the border in Ukraine, and sabotage attacks inside Poland that Tusk has attributed to Russia.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
  • But the focus on maximizing data connectivity and Internet traffic has given way to more complex planning that also accounts for international relations and the growing risk of adversaries carrying out surveillance or sabotage of cables.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of sabotage
Noun
  • Trump spent the day at the White House watching coverage, watching Fox News, trying to give himself an insurrection.
    — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Nov. 2026
  • By then, graffiti had been scrubbed from the central monument that pays tribute to the French Republic, including its tradition of insurrection.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of insurrection
Noun
  • Tundu Lissu, a Tanzanian opposition leader and chairperson of the Chadema party, was sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of inciting people to disrupt last year's election but was acquitted of the more serious charge of treason.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Tundu Lissu was acquitted of treason charges but imprisoned nonetheless in a trial that rights groups said was meant to silence opposition to Tanzania’s government.
    — Rael Ombuor, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of treason
Noun
  • In Fitzgerald’s heyday, barely-there bobs were a symbol of youth, rebellion, and liberation.
    — Molly Mulshine, InStyle, 30 Oct. 2026
  • As the competition unfolds, Haymitch risks everything to take down the Games from within the arena — setting in motion the rebellion that will change Panem forever.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of rebellion
Noun
  • Police stood guard outside branches in what officials described as a precaution against unrest.
    — Jorge Saenz, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
  • In February, a student died during unrest over unpaid financial aid at Dakar’s Cheikh Anta Diop University.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of unrest

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 11 Nov. 2026.

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