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
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
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
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Unlike coups or insurrections, which are swift and explicit, modern democratic backsliding is often incremental.—
Helena Carpio,
Time,
16 Jan. 2026
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The 1807 measure allows the president to deploy members of the military or federalize state National Guard members to contain insurrections.—
Sarah Davis,
The Hill,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Urban uprisings and rebellions by Blacks stretched from coast to coast.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
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Here are some notable uses of the Insurrection Act, usually to quell rebellions or in cases where local or state authorities were unable or unwilling to maintain order or uphold the Constitution.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The ticker might jump on news of a political abduction, distant revolts, or threats over Arctic resources, but the underlying story remains the same.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The society’s equilibrium has been profoundly disrupted and can easily tip into escalating popular revolts and open elite resistance, producing a revolution.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The anti-ICE mobilization that unfolded around the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last week mirrored the methods used to overthrow governments and spark bloody revolutions around the globe, according to a Fox News Digital analysis.—
Asra Q. Nomani , Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Gramophone records spun at 78 revolutions per minute.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Arab Spring uprisings reached Syria in 2011 and blazed up into civil war.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
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Urban uprisings and rebellions by Blacks stretched from coast to coast.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subversions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversions. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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