as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
by insisting that she pay me for helping her, she subverted my noble desire to do a good deed without reward
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Recent Examples of subvert
Iran’s comments were first reported by Bloomberg, which said that around 50,000 terminals for Starlink were smuggled into Iran in recent years, allowing protesters to subvert internet outages backed by the government.
—
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 10 Feb. 2026
The project takes references from Fatal Attraction, Eyes Wide Shut and Sunset Boulevard while aiming to subvert storytelling conventions.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
The 20-year sentence was the longest handed out under the national security law introduced in 2020, surpassing the 10-year term given to activist Benny Tai, a former law professor who was convicted of conspiring to subvert state power, in November 2024.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
Yet, because of the loophole in the Citizens United ruling, foreign investors can now subvert that federal law through multinational corporations.
—Michael Gianaris, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subvert
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 10 Feb. 2026
The project takes references from Fatal Attraction, Eyes Wide Shut and Sunset Boulevard while aiming to subvert storytelling conventions.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
The 20-year sentence was the longest handed out under the national security law introduced in 2020, surpassing the 10-year term given to activist Benny Tai, a former law professor who was convicted of conspiring to subvert state power, in November 2024.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
Yet, because of the loophole in the Citizens United ruling, foreign investors can now subvert that federal law through multinational corporations.
—Michael Gianaris, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subvert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subvert
Verb
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In many cases submitted to Othram, the main challenge can be having to rely solely on significantly old remains, as in Ritchie’s case, or other pieces of evidence that have degraded over time, Othram’s CEO David Mittelman told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2026
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Cement and steel degrade and corrode over time (especially when underground and in constant contact with saltwater).—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Getty Images Since the June strikes, Iran’s rulers have been weakened by street protests, suppressed at a cost of thousands of lives, against a cost-of-living crisis driven in part by international sanctions that have strangled the country’s oil income.—
Max Burman,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
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Some purchasers had issues with the hook-and-loop straps weakening quickly.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But, if the release of the Epstein files has accomplished anything, it’s been to demonstrate how, on both sides of the Atlantic, systems corrupted by money are ripe for reform.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
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American culture will not be mocked or corrupted without consequence.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Gizmodo continues that the results of the CT scans astonished researchers because her right TMJ, near the ear, had been destroyed.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
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Half a million acres burned, destroying $300 million in timber and at least 150 homes and other structures.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the dormitory, the classroom, and on the football team, where Negroes were allowed only to be linebackers, he was humiliated.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
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The gesture provoked a seismic reaction internationally while infuriating Olympic officials who claimed Smith and Carlos used the world stage to humiliate their home country.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Haphazardly propped on the ground with wiring and hardware exposed, the flags appear as symbols debased and emptied after centuries of misuse.—
Rachel Wetzler,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
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Since the summer of 2025, antiforeigner sentiment—fueled by false or exaggerated claims about migrant workers committing crimes, foreign residents draining welfare coffers, or international tourists debasing Japanese culture—has taken hold in Japanese politics.—
GRACIA LIU-FARRER,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Turns out, Chris lied about touching a stone mid-play and has quietly poisoned every victory and memory the team has enjoyed since.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
20 Feb. 2026
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Boundaries protect quality of output and prevent resentment from poisoning relationships.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The court’s ruling affirms that when communities are fractured or configured in ways that dilute their voting power, the state Constitution provides a solution.—
Chris Alexander,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
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For nails and hair On the hair, rosehip oil can be applied to the ends, preferably diluted with a carrier oil like argon oil, to add shine and help control frizz.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subvert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subvert. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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