as in insurrections
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 subversions
In my fiction, my grandfather was no longer an inscrutable ghost, but a character with definable flaws, who did things in an order that, despite whatever twists and subversions, resolved into meaning.
—
Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
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
The full-shearling texture and whimsical proportions are signature ERL — a brand known for its playful subversions of everyday silhouettes.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Such subversions can be seen as the story pivots from one twist to another and one surprise to the next.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
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
The full-shearling texture and whimsical proportions are signature ERL — a brand known for its playful subversions of everyday silhouettes.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Such subversions can be seen as the story pivots from one twist to another and one surprise to the next.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversions
Noun
-
There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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But the regime, besieged by insurrections across the country, abandoned Manbij.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Most Southern states soon followed with anti-literacy laws of their own between 1740 and 1834, in the hopes of preventing any further slave rebellions.—
Rodney Coates,
The Conversation,
16 June 2026
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Rhaenyra is suddenly dealing with internal criticism, possible rebellions, subjects spray-painting nasty stuff on the walls and self-doubt.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Starmer also has angered supporters with attempts to cut welfare spending, some of which were reversed after Labour revolts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
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Then came revolts and revolutions in Ireland, the Swiss cantons, the Rhineland, the Netherlands, the Italian states, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
There are dogs, bandits, romances, political revolutions, philosophical debates.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
16 June 2026
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Now, British history goes back a long time, and there have been revolutions and wars, but since the coming of parliamentary government to Britain, Britain has not seen anything like this.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Noun
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While Spielberg thinks such an event would bring the world together, Koepp believes there could be mass uprisings against scientists, government officials or even religious leaders who kept this information hidden.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
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Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of NCRI-US, told Fox News Digital that the organization first became focused on stadium surveillance while tracking how Iranian authorities identified protesters during recent uprisings.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subversions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversions. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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