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 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 Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were charged in September 2021 with inciting subversion and face a maximum jail term of 10 years if convicted. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 Although the movie eventually loses steam (a side effect of its subversions of the genre, while using Ilyas’s awkward outsidership as an aesthetic North Star), Khan traces the care with which his characters try to chart invisible social lines. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026 Subversion of the Source Material One of the biggest issues in Hollywood, especially over the last decade, is subversion of the source material. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for subversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversion
  1. sabotage
  2. insurrection
  3. treason
  4. rebellion
  5. unrest
Noun
  • The warning comes as Baltic military exercises expand and European leaders raise concerns about Russian sabotage and other hybrid attacks amid the war in Ukraine.
    — Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The job included planning intelligence and sabotage missions from the Adriatic to the Black Sea and running spy networks across the entire region, from capitals like Prague, Bucharest, and Tirana to mountains in Greece and Yugoslavia.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of sabotage
Noun
  • Amendment is also a constitution’s mechanism for the prevention of insurrection.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • As Port falls in with a group of conspirators preparing for the insurrection, the book takes on a hallucinatory, digressive quality, blurring the lines between life and death, reality and illusion.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of insurrection
Noun
  • The Culture Minister has accused them of treason and sought to revoke their citizenship.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026
  • These people are opening the door to our enemies, which used to be called treason.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of treason
Noun
  • To pair the piece with Celine’s more tailored pieces like the trousers and blouse added a tonal contrast that still executed on its luxury aesthetic, though with a touch of rebellion.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • These layered styles exuded rebellion and were made famous around the globe by figures like Joan Jett.
    — María Diez, Glamour, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of rebellion
Noun
  • Citing the country's judiciary, IRNA said the men took part in unrest in the northeastern city of Mashhad that left four members of the security forces dead earlier this year.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The unrest was followed by sustained opposition to government efforts to house asylum seekers in communities across the country, with some protests also descending into violent clashes.
    — Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 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 7 Oct. 2026.

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