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
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
Erin Somers, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
This excellent continuation of the Predator franchise is a super-powered, subversive reboot/sequel from director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane).
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
Their work soon came to embody the spirit of a new generation of subversive British artists, intrigued by regional communities and traditions and what that had to say about British culture more broadly.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 7 Dec. 2025
The idea that honesty might require stepping outside these rituals remains culturally subversive, especially for women taught to function as the relational glue of families.
—Rebecca Soffer, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Siegelaub’s first activities, before becoming the curator and mastermind of Conceptual art and its innovative subversive exhibition forms as books and catalogues, had been studying, collecting, and selling Oriental carpets.
—Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Berghaus embraced the punks and ravers, recognizing in them a version of the subversive spirit that drives the very best alpinists.
—Jeff Moag, Outside, 24 Nov. 2025
But One Battle After Another is ultimately not a subversive film.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
Both directed by Paul Morrissey and produced by Warhol, the films are subversive, sultry reimaginings of the classic Hollywood monsters, with Kier bringing a haunting yet comically inept spin on the title characters.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 23 Nov. 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
Some readers might expect an indictment of fan fiction and celebrity culture; Yi swerves, though, and creates a more searching and subversive tale of love, connection, and art.
—Erin Somers, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
This excellent continuation of the Predator franchise is a super-powered, subversive reboot/sequel from director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane).
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
Their work soon came to embody the spirit of a new generation of subversive British artists, intrigued by regional communities and traditions and what that had to say about British culture more broadly.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 7 Dec. 2025
The idea that honesty might require stepping outside these rituals remains culturally subversive, especially for women taught to function as the relational glue of families.
—Rebecca Soffer, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Siegelaub’s first activities, before becoming the curator and mastermind of Conceptual art and its innovative subversive exhibition forms as books and catalogues, had been studying, collecting, and selling Oriental carpets.
—Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Berghaus embraced the punks and ravers, recognizing in them a version of the subversive spirit that drives the very best alpinists.
—Jeff Moag, Outside, 24 Nov. 2025
But One Battle After Another is ultimately not a subversive film.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
Both directed by Paul Morrissey and produced by Warhol, the films are subversive, sultry reimaginings of the classic Hollywood monsters, with Kier bringing a haunting yet comically inept spin on the title characters.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 23 Nov. 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
-
Safavi said the blackout coincided with violent confrontations in several regions.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Parallel societies in certain urban areas and rising violent crime statistics linked to some migrant cohorts in countries such as Sweden and Germany led to the dramatic rise of populist and patriotic parties across the continent, from France to Italy to the Netherlands.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While many are now driven primarily by economic interests, a subset retains insurgent, ant-imperialist commitments.—
Rebecca Hanson,
The Conversation,
6 Jan. 2026
-
That could mean tightening sanctions on remaining power brokers, expanding strikes against security installations and militias, covertly supporting insurgent factions, and using Maduro’s prospective trial as a global stage on which to delegitimize Chavismo once and for all.—
Robert Muggah,
Fortune,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Leave it to one of the best luggage brands to come out with a revolutionary zipper that is three times stronger than a traditional zipper, as well as an anti-microbial lining that keeps odor-causing bacteria from thriving.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
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Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a scruffy former revolutionary desperate to find his teen daughter (Chase Infiniti) with an old enemy (Sean Penn) in hot pursuit.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
When the violence fails to stop after the formal Purge ends, two families must band together to escape the anarchists by crossing into Mexico, but with the United States under siege, surviving will be much more difficult than just making it through one deadly night.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Dec. 2025
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For instance, few locals know this was once the location of anarchist activist and writer Emma Goldman's ice cream shop.—
Mary LeBus,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subversive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversive. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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