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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
Juergen Teller, fashion’s most subversive photographer, known for his dark wit and stark images, has been plumbing the depths — of love, religion, friendship and family.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
While the bad clown—a horror staple—might seem like a perversion of a wholesome form of entertainment historically meant for children, the clown in popular culture has always been subversive.
—Time, 30 Oct. 2025
There is an enduring punk rock persona too, with some more subversive, feminine details.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
But the campaign is a subversive take on marketing in the year 2025, star-studded, social first, and using pop culture as an entry-point for fans.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
The result is bright, exotic, and joyfully subversive, proving that even the darkest wood can burn so bright.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
This week, the brands unveiled a collaboration defined by a subversive aesthetic.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
Fast forward ten years, and Vans has reimagined that same ethos through a skate lens, turning a once-divisive luxury statement into something both accessible and subversive.
—Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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
Familiar Is a Trojan Horse There’s something subversive about using ordinary details in extraordinary stories.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
Juergen Teller, fashion’s most subversive photographer, known for his dark wit and stark images, has been plumbing the depths — of love, religion, friendship and family.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
While the bad clown—a horror staple—might seem like a perversion of a wholesome form of entertainment historically meant for children, the clown in popular culture has always been subversive.
—Time, 30 Oct. 2025
There is an enduring punk rock persona too, with some more subversive, feminine details.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
But the campaign is a subversive take on marketing in the year 2025, star-studded, social first, and using pop culture as an entry-point for fans.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
The result is bright, exotic, and joyfully subversive, proving that even the darkest wood can burn so bright.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
This week, the brands unveiled a collaboration defined by a subversive aesthetic.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
Fast forward ten years, and Vans has reimagined that same ethos through a skate lens, turning a once-divisive luxury statement into something both accessible and subversive.
—Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversive
Noun
-
The London punk rebels seized the revolutionary spirit of 1977 with their raw manifesto The Clash, then refined their sound with the flawed Give ‘Em Enough Rope.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Meanwhile, over in Britain, a vibrant antiwar movement brought on motion after motion in Parliament to cease fire and end all offensive operations against the rebels.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Rising number of violent incidents, 911 calls But reducing the inmate population did not solve the problem with drugs and violence.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Nov. 2025
-
After Maggie and Paul were shot to death on June 7, 2021, Alex was found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, earning two consecutive life sentences without possibility of parole.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
That revelation prodded insurgents in British possessions from Ireland to Sierra Leone to take to the streets to assert their own ambitions for economic and political autonomy over the decades to come.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Ilana presents herself as a stout-hearted reformer who’s being targeted by fascistic insurgents but is secretly evil enough to engineer an apocalypse.—
Matt Zoller Seitz,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In the action-thriller, Taylor, 34, stars as a member of a revolutionary group, the French 75, who is in a relationship with Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio, 50).—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Researchers in Mexico have developed a revolutionary zinc-air battery (ZAB) that keeps running even after being punctured, exposed to flames, or even completely submerged in water.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Another is an anarchist raging against a large corporation.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
When an anarchist frames one of them for treason, another is determined to track down a traitor.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subversive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversive. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
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