as in rebel
someone who tries to overthrow or undermine a governing power
They were outted as subversives and exiled from the country.
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as in violent
seeking to overthrow or undermine a governing power
A subversive organization determined to unseat a leader who they believed operated outside the law.
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Recent Examples of subversive
Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
An obsession with Perfidia Beverly Hills (a magnetic Teyana Taylor), the animating figure behind a militant organization called the French 75 and the most stunning subversive to flaunt an automatic weapon while heavily pregnant.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
To dissidents, she has been seen as a hero putting her life on the line; to Modi’s supporters, as a dangerous subversive who is anti-national and anti-Hindu.
—Anderson Tepper, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
André's chaotic talk show, The Eric Andre Show (2012–2023), established the actor and comedian as a true subversive, which makes his turns in projects such as The Lion King (2019) and Trolls Band Together (2023) that much more amusing.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
In those times, young people who self-described as gangsters fought for territory, and one of their subversive acts was to tag the walls of the city with the verses of cumbia songs.
—Karla Gachet, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025
Sweeney and Dickson have been experimenting with more playful sartorial risks in the few months too; sailor chic via Coperni, subversive corporate attire with a pantsless suit and tie combo via Jean Paul Gaultier, and silky power suiting by Oscar de la Renta.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
The move feels refreshing in a subversive, conceptual art kind of way.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
The comedian previously spoke with Complex in July about unintentionally becoming a subversive style icon for his baggy look.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
Fans of Adult Swim will delight in its surreal animation and subversive humor.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
If all of this were a subtle read of the American mainstream media’s inadequacy in covering Palestine with any amount of empathy, or its eagerness to bang the drum in support of America’s war games, that would be an unexpected, refreshingly subversive perspective.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
The novel observes that, while the revolutionary spirit of the 1960s was sabotaged by political forces, the omnipresence of mass culture, television, and passive consumption in the Reagan era would also factor heavily into the struggle of subversive political movements to endure.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
Loners lashing out America has had genuine subversives and left-wing terror networks in the past.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
An obsession with Perfidia Beverly Hills (a magnetic Teyana Taylor), the animating figure behind a militant organization called the French 75 and the most stunning subversive to flaunt an automatic weapon while heavily pregnant.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
To dissidents, she has been seen as a hero putting her life on the line; to Modi’s supporters, as a dangerous subversive who is anti-national and anti-Hindu.
—Anderson Tepper, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
André's chaotic talk show, The Eric Andre Show (2012–2023), established the actor and comedian as a true subversive, which makes his turns in projects such as The Lion King (2019) and Trolls Band Together (2023) that much more amusing.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Ray had already channelled the antic, subversive spirit of Dada and Surrealism with a series of readymade sculptures that included a flatiron studded with a row of tacks.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
In those times, young people who self-described as gangsters fought for territory, and one of their subversive acts was to tag the walls of the city with the verses of cumbia songs.
—Karla Gachet, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025
Sweeney and Dickson have been experimenting with more playful sartorial risks in the few months too; sailor chic via Coperni, subversive corporate attire with a pantsless suit and tie combo via Jean Paul Gaultier, and silky power suiting by Oscar de la Renta.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
The move feels refreshing in a subversive, conceptual art kind of way.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
The comedian previously spoke with Complex in July about unintentionally becoming a subversive style icon for his baggy look.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
Fans of Adult Swim will delight in its surreal animation and subversive humor.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
If all of this were a subtle read of the American mainstream media’s inadequacy in covering Palestine with any amount of empathy, or its eagerness to bang the drum in support of America’s war games, that would be an unexpected, refreshingly subversive perspective.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
The novel observes that, while the revolutionary spirit of the 1960s was sabotaged by political forces, the omnipresence of mass culture, television, and passive consumption in the Reagan era would also factor heavily into the struggle of subversive political movements to endure.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversive
Noun
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Alcalá has pleaded guilty to collaborating with Colombia’s FARC rebels.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The rebels also cited the need to take out the massive scam operations as justification for their offensive – which analysts say China likely greenlit.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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While Memphis has seen high numbers of violent crimes such as homicides and carjackings in recent years, Democratic and Republican officials have noted decreases this year in some crime categories.—
Devon M. Sayers,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
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Even so, to take on one of the most famous women in history — and through a lens so bloody and violent — is a mighty tall order.—
Shirley Halperin,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Jahmai Jones’ two-run single in the top of the fifth proved the difference, punching Detroit’s ticket to the playoffs and ensuring the Tigers would go into Game 162 with a chance to claw back the AL Central title from the insurgent Cleveland Guardians on the final day of the regular season.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
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Labels matter Security analysts say the situation in Haiti continues to defy clear international legal characterization and the choice of labels – crisis, armed conflict, gangs, terrorist groups, armed groups, criminal groups, insurgents – carries significant legal and humanitarian implications.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In late 2010, Facebook became revered as the gold standard of revolutionary organizing, sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa following the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Collective farms, the bane of Soviet agriculture that had once inspired Fidel’s revolutionary visions, were no longer the norm.—
Joseph J. Gonzalez,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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By contrast, left-wing extremist incidents, including those tied to anarchist or environmental movements, have made up about 10 to 15 percent of incidents and less than 5 percent of fatalities.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
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Prosecutors said members of that group engaged in digital extremism with the explicit goal of dismantling societal order, much in the way the anarchists of the pre-internet era used to operate.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subversive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversive. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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