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
Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Instead, the stylish couple spent the construction years combing through vintage markets, building a concept that’s classic, but singular and a little subversive.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026
On November 25, 1947, a majority of Hollywood top brass met at the Waldorf Astoria in New York and drafted the notorious Waldorf Statement that promised no studio would employ anyone who was a communist or suspected subversive.
—Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
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
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Meanwhile, Vladimir is a slyly subversive 2022 novel about academia in which a once beautiful English professor, referred to only as M, has begun to feel the effects of aging in her late fifties, while her husband is just reaching his prime.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
There’s a subversive edge to this otherwise blithe simulacrum of a French salon inside the Printemps department store, with its frescoes, Languedoc marble tables and banquettes clad in Le Manach toile de Tours.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
California should give this cooperation in exchange for a deal to create a new pathway to deal with non-criminal, non-subversive immigrants.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Banksy, who has never publicly revealed his identity, is part of a tradition of street artists who viewed the undercover act of posting their art in public as a subversive form of expression.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 May 2026
The most radical, countercultural, genuinely subversive act in business today is to deliberately go slow.
—Big Think, 1 May 2026
Banksy, who has never publicly revealed his identity, is part of a tradition of street artists who viewed the undercover act of posting their art in public as a subversive form of expression.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Such politicians viewed literature as subversive, irritatingly highbrow, and—like socialism—suspiciously European.
—Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
The seamless integration of old and new feels stealthy, and a touch subversive, a doubling-down on the museum’s approach to time as nonlinear, sinuous and delightfully slippery.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Instead, the stylish couple spent the construction years combing through vintage markets, building a concept that’s classic, but singular and a little subversive.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026
On November 25, 1947, a majority of Hollywood top brass met at the Waldorf Astoria in New York and drafted the notorious Waldorf Statement that promised no studio would employ anyone who was a communist or suspected subversive.
—Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
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
The project is a reimagining of the subversive 1963 Joseph Losey classic with a screenplay by Harold Pinter.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Meanwhile, Vladimir is a slyly subversive 2022 novel about academia in which a once beautiful English professor, referred to only as M, has begun to feel the effects of aging in her late fifties, while her husband is just reaching his prime.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
There’s a subversive edge to this otherwise blithe simulacrum of a French salon inside the Printemps department store, with its frescoes, Languedoc marble tables and banquettes clad in Le Manach toile de Tours.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
California should give this cooperation in exchange for a deal to create a new pathway to deal with non-criminal, non-subversive immigrants.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Banksy, who has never publicly revealed his identity, is part of a tradition of street artists who viewed the undercover act of posting their art in public as a subversive form of expression.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 May 2026
The most radical, countercultural, genuinely subversive act in business today is to deliberately go slow.
—Big Think, 1 May 2026
Banksy, who has never publicly revealed his identity, is part of a tradition of street artists who viewed the undercover act of posting their art in public as a subversive form of expression.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Such politicians viewed literature as subversive, irritatingly highbrow, and—like socialism—suspiciously European.
—Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversive
Noun
-
In March, Washington sanctioned Rwanda’s defense forces and several senior officials, accusing them of funding the M23 rebels who have taken over mineral-rich areas of eastern DR Congo.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
15 May 2026
-
Chance understands why some kids rebel.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
When Ahmed suggested that this was a bad idea, since Denise was the one who had been violent, Denise began cursing at him.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Some people argue that enforcement becomes necessary when encampments grow large or long-term, especially when safety concerns, sanitation issues, or violent incidents arise.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
But even larger numbers of socially conservative white working-class voters in Wales, Scotland and northern England — the traditional bedrock of Labour’s support — switched to Reform, the insurgent party founded by Nigel Farage, the renowned Brexit campaigner.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
-
According to the military, security forces launched an operation in the province’s district of Barkhan to rout out insurgents that Islamabad claims are backed by India.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Atlanta offers a unique laboratory where chefs test ideas to determine if temporary kitchens can transform into revolutionary restaurants.—
Sam Flemming,
AJC.com,
14 May 2026
-
But Connecticut lacks the colonial cache of Massachusetts and its revolutionary figures like Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, both of whom have been named by the White House as slated for inclusion in the Garden of Heroes.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
These forces would collide on the Near West Side on a spring evening, against the backdrop of labor unrest, union activity and a hint of influence from a sinister anarchist movement.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Through thoughtful letters from prison, an anarchist incarcerated since 1980 reflects on his radical past.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subversive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversive. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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