as in sabotage
secret efforts to weaken or ruin a political system or government from within
They were arrested on charges of political subversion.
Related Words
Relevance
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
There is power in unspoken knowledge, Schilinski suggests, and the performance of innocence and naiveté, for a young girl, can be an instrument of subversion.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
Defiance evolved into active subversion of the constitutional order and provisions of Dayton.
—Adis Maksić, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
The problem was, of course, that subversion was an amorphous label that could be wielded flexibly, which left industry employees scared of weighing in on any topic that could be seen as remotely controversial.
—Time, 18 Nov. 2025
Both underground allies are in the book as well, but play extremely different in a climate in which asking corporate media not to cave in to pressure, or even calling out fascists, is viewed as radical subversion.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
Defiance evolved into active subversion of the constitutional order and provisions of Dayton.
—Adis Maksić, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
The problem was, of course, that subversion was an amorphous label that could be wielded flexibly, which left industry employees scared of weighing in on any topic that could be seen as remotely controversial.
—Time, 18 Nov. 2025
Both underground allies are in the book as well, but play extremely different in a climate in which asking corporate media not to cave in to pressure, or even calling out fascists, is viewed as radical subversion.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversion
Noun
-
Drone incursions, sabotage and the vulnerability of nuclear reactors to attack are turning Europe into a dangerous flashpoint.—
Chicago Tribune,
Twin Cities,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Everything was going so smoothly but as The Athletic has pointed out before, Nigeria have a strange ability to self-sabotage.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The host noted the date of the insurrection, following President Joe Biden's win over Trump in the 2020 election for president, early on.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
-
In the days immediately following the insurrection, the country seemed almost unified in agreement that what had happened at the Capitol was violent and dark.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Rumors of treason, incompetence and betrayal swirled.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
His Administration has also accused political rivals, including Democratic lawmakers and former President Barack Obama, of sedition and treason.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
10 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Many standard policies carve out exceptions for disruptions due to war, undeclared war, civil disorder, rebellion, military activity or government intervention, experts said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Storytelling will never not be a form of rebellion.—
Laura Dave,
Time,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some other reports put the death toll from unrest much higher, with TIME citing a doctor in Tehran as saying at least 217 people had been killed, for instance.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
In a statement broadcast by state TV, a security force known for quelling unrest accused terrorists of targeting military and law enforcement bases over the past two nights.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
With season 4 rapidly approaching, now's the time to prepare for the treachery to come.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Dec. 2025
-
Instead of being killed, Ashur takes Spartacus’ life and is consequently rewarded for his treachery by the Roman Empire.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversion. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share