Thesaurus results for SUBVERSIVES

subversives

noun

plural of subversive

as in rebels

someone who tries to overthrow or undermine a governing power They were outted as subversives and exiled from the country.

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of subversives Loners lashing out America has had genuine subversives and left-wing terror networks in the past. — Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversives

Noun

Ethiopian Airlines had suspended flights to Mekelle and the Tigrayan cities of Axum and Shire after the rebels seized the airport.

— Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
While the British prevailed over the rebels, the uprising laid the foundations for African nationalism.

— Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of rebels

Noun

They’re seen as oligarchs, as the people with wealth and power, controlling our lives—not as outsider insurgents.

— Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
International sanctions persisted, and PF’s ZANLA and ZIPRA insurgents continued their liberation war.

— Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of insurgents

Noun

Exiled revolutionaries needed somewhere to go, as did poorer residents who were hoping the revolution would improve conditions.

— Blaise Mesa, jsonline.com, 18 Sep. 2026
The new Congress, established on the revolutionaries’ battle cry of no taxation without representation, also needed to pay the bills.

— Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of revolutionaries

Noun

There are groups of radical environmentalists and anarchists who embrace him, and Luigi Mangione gave the Unabomber Manifesto a four-star review on Goodreads.

— Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Something common to the plans and schemes of crypto-anarchists is a certain Rube Goldberg fussiness.

— Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of anarchists

Noun

Abraham and Szor, both Israeli filmmakers, have been denounced as traitors in Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself has threatened to revoke their citizenship.

— Justin Chang, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Each season, The Traitors brings together a group of people for a game of deceit, separating the cast into faithfuls and traitors who must try to figure out who is who.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of traitors

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“Subversives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversives. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of subversives

noun

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