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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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
Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversives
Noun
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The rebels also cited the need to take out the massive scam operations as justification for their offensive – which analysts say China likely greenlit.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
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The rebels, led by Deepak Rauniyar and Binod Paudel, fired off a scathing letter to the Academy demanding a full investigation and threatening to blow up Nepal’s Oscar dreams entirely.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Labels matter Security analysts say the situation in Haiti continues to defy clear international legal characterization and the choice of labels – crisis, armed conflict, gangs, terrorist groups, armed groups, criminal groups, insurgents – carries significant legal and humanitarian implications.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
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This might enable a mission which, for example, a Viper is located covertly next to a safe house known to be used by insurgents.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Yet through Bob, Anderson finds his way into this story in a way that feels self-reflective and in conversation with a whole generation of coulda been revolutionaries.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
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Creating the technology for revolutionaries operating in an amorphous present, such as the scanner device, was another fascinating challenge.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Prosecutors said members of that group engaged in digital extremism with the explicit goal of dismantling societal order, much in the way the anarchists of the pre-internet era used to operate.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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The attack, which resulted in considerable destruction and numerous fatalities, remains unsolved; however, it is widely attributed to the actions of Italian anarchists.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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So many traitors, smooth operators.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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The stars play a game in which a group of ‘faithful’ players must detect and eliminate ‘traitors,’ who each evening banish others from the competition.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subversives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversives. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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