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
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
That made the length of some of Puth’s selections Wednesday seem almost subversive at times.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
In an evening thick with outrage and protest and war and death and rebellion, the most subversive moment in Bruce Springsteen’s concert in Sunrise on Thursday had nothing to do with politics.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Hoja has a subversive relationship to military and political authority as well.
—Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 22 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
At the same time, California law enforcement agencies should assist in identifying and capturing criminal and subversive immigrants and turning them over to federal agents for deportation.
—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
That made the length of some of Puth’s selections Wednesday seem almost subversive at times.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
In an evening thick with outrage and protest and war and death and rebellion, the most subversive moment in Bruce Springsteen’s concert in Sunrise on Thursday had nothing to do with politics.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Hoja has a subversive relationship to military and political authority as well.
—Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversive
Noun
-
Mali was struck late last month by one of the biggest coordinated attacks on its army in Bamako and several other cities by jihadis and rebels who seized several towns and military bases.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
The rebels were fully aware of these other colonies and sought to include them.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The group above is wanted in connection with a violent robbery on board a CTA bus in Washington Park on April 9.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
-
More heavy elements, more violent eruptions.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Kidal's capture in a similar militant-insurgent alliance over a decade ago was at the root of the security crisis that has shaken Mali.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Mali has faced years of escalating insurgent violence; the ruling military junta, which pledged to restore stability in a 2020 coup, turned to Russia for assistance in its counterinsurgency campaign.—
Lauren Morganbesser,
semafor.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But as the war progressed, the Red Army phased out most of its pre-war tanks in favor of the revolutionary medium tank, the T-34.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
-
Kneecap have skillfully put their manifesto and a detailed rundown of last year’s experiences on their new album, Fenian, whose title, taken from the name of a 19th century Irish revolutionary movement, signals its controversial content.—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
6 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 10 May. 2026.
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