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
But Quinn is perhaps both the purest distillation and subversion of the murderous bisexual stereotype.
—
Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 23 Sep. 2025
The authoritarian anarcho-tyranny we are mired in today is the consequence of the Left's subversion.
—Ayaan Hirsi Ali, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
The designers pushing the field forward today—whether through tailoring, minimalism or subtle subversion—are all, in some way, working in conversation with his vision.
—Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The lack of any real surprises or subversions along the way can be a drag, making the Prime Video miniseries feel a bit padded even at a relatively trim six hour-long episodes.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 23 Sep. 2025
The authoritarian anarcho-tyranny we are mired in today is the consequence of the Left's subversion.
—Ayaan Hirsi Ali, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
The designers pushing the field forward today—whether through tailoring, minimalism or subtle subversion—are all, in some way, working in conversation with his vision.
—Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The lack of any real surprises or subversions along the way can be a drag, making the Prime Video miniseries feel a bit padded even at a relatively trim six hour-long episodes.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversion
Noun
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Western allies accuse Russia of serious airspace violations, sabotage plots, cyberattacks, and more—which Moscow denies.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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The more sabotage missions completed undetected, the greater the prize — but if a celebrity saboteur is caught, the contestant faces a difficult decision.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There has to be an insurrection in order for him to be allowed to invoke it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Oct. 2025
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First passed in 1792, the federal law gives presidents the power to deploy the military domestically under certain conditions, such as civil disorder, insurrection and armed rebellion.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Some of the coup leaders were eventually convicted of treason and executed, and the names of Odinga and his father came up during interrogations of some suspects.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
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Unlike Smith, Leyba-Gonzalez was not charged with murder, which is the only crime other than treason that allows Indiana judges to hold defendants without bail.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But things change the next morning when all of the clans light burning crosses in a call to action to join the Jacobite rebellion — a call that Brian must answer or face being labeled a traitor.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Oct. 2025
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His effort to suppress the rebellion and restore federal authority marked the beginning of the Civil War.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But elections could act as a lightning rod for frustration over political repression to tip over into unrest.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
10 Oct. 2025
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Lecornu appeared to have negotiated a safeguard against further political unrest.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And when the surviving crew interrogates the android Ash about his treachery, the book has him pretty much spill the space beans.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
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When does compromise become treachery or defeat?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversion. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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