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
Making space for subversion and resistance is at the core of what this band is about.
—
Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Sabotage is the deliberate subversion of a nation’s resources.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
No, this is the subversion of the ability to pay attention on a species-wide level.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
The legal penalties for people abroad echo the clause in the National Security Law which China imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, which states that authorities can prosecute people based outside China over actions that Beijing perceives as secession or subversion.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Sabotage is the deliberate subversion of a nation’s resources.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
No, this is the subversion of the ability to pay attention on a species-wide level.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
The legal penalties for people abroad echo the clause in the National Security Law which China imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, which states that authorities can prosecute people based outside China over actions that Beijing perceives as secession or subversion.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversion
Noun
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To counteract this unintentional sabotage, start by cleaning your gutters.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
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For months, Russia has ramped up sabotage including cyberattacks against critical infrastructure and disinformation against countries across Europe, as detailed by an AP investigation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Trump then referred to his $5 billion lawsuit against the BBC, over edits made in a 2024 documentary on the January 6 insurrection.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
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But for those less familiar—say, a teenager who was just 10 when the January 6 insurrection happened—the museum does not guide.—
Kelsey Ables,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
Noun
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She had been imprisoned for more than a year on charges of treason stemming from a $52 donation to a charity aiding Ukraine.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
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These laws required individuals accused of treason to appear in court and defend themselves.—
Kimberly Nath,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
Noun
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The rebellion stems from Labor’s heavy losses in local elections last week and widespread party frustration over Starmer’s leadership, stagnant economic growth and failure to deliver on campaign promises.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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On the internet, masculinism is presented as a rebellion—a transgressive middle finger to the liberal establishment, expressed in all the words a corporate HR department would order you not to say.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Cárdenas returned to Nicaragua in the late 1970s to live in semi-retirement, but political unrest in the country, in the form of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, forced him to flee and eventually return to the United States.—
Ed Guzman,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
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Russia is now roiled by rumors of organized unrest with months to go before parliamentary elections, while Putin himself faces allegations of extreme isolation and a weakening grip on power.—
Rafi Schwartz,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Upon learning of Ava’s treachery, Deborah HOWLS.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
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Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversion. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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