as in corrupted
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 subverted
In Camps’ hands, a cable or crewneck is never simply just that — there’s a playfulness to her draping and cutouts, subverted by the juxtaposition of gossamer-like fine gauge underpinnings with cozier, enveloping sweaters.
—
Ari Stark, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Tariffs, conquests; all are subverted to this man’s ego.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Start watching this Adult Swim original for the subverted Back to the Future vibes, but don't expect McDonald's to bring back their Szechuan sauce anytime soon.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
By delegitimizing the Islamic Republic as an occupying force—one that plunders national wealth to subsidize regional proxies—the opposition has effectively subverted the regime’s nationalist rhetoric.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
At the 2025 Emmys in September, the actress subverted the event's formal dress code, opting for straight-leg blue jeans and a white T-shirt, adding a pair of black flats, a belt and sunglasses.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
Yet, as second wave feminism took root in the 1960s, many women seized on broom-riding witches as heroes who subverted ideas of domesticity.
—Time, 21 Nov. 2025
However, it’s massively subverted expectation - and that’s an understatement.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
Details on how the administration has subverted health spending have received little attention because many changes have been made quietly -- and people who rely on federal funds fear retribution.
—Amy Maxmen, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Ari Stark, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Tariffs, conquests; all are subverted to this man’s ego.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Start watching this Adult Swim original for the subverted Back to the Future vibes, but don't expect McDonald's to bring back their Szechuan sauce anytime soon.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
By delegitimizing the Islamic Republic as an occupying force—one that plunders national wealth to subsidize regional proxies—the opposition has effectively subverted the regime’s nationalist rhetoric.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
At the 2025 Emmys in September, the actress subverted the event's formal dress code, opting for straight-leg blue jeans and a white T-shirt, adding a pair of black flats, a belt and sunglasses.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
Yet, as second wave feminism took root in the 1960s, many women seized on broom-riding witches as heroes who subverted ideas of domesticity.
—Time, 21 Nov. 2025
However, it’s massively subverted expectation - and that’s an understatement.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
Details on how the administration has subverted health spending have received little attention because many changes have been made quietly -- and people who rely on federal funds fear retribution.
—Amy Maxmen, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subverted
Verb
-
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
-
American culture will not be mocked or corrupted without consequence.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Infrastructure in Venezuela is severely degraded, and any meaningful revival would likely require more than $100 billion in investment over a decade.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The system degraded exactly as predicted.—
Staff report,
Daily News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Mutawa, as the religious police are known, had their powers significantly weakened in 2016.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Well, he's weakened the regulations on clean cars.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Constitution has been perverted in ways by administrations on both sides of the aisle to facilitate military action.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Organized sports can easily be perverted.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors argue that Colin Gray was aware that his son's mental health had deteriorated in the weeks before the shooting, but still gave the teen the assault-style weapon as a Christmas gift and purchased a laser sight, tactical vest, and ammunition for him.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But the brands’ sales have deteriorated further since the split was announced, making a spinoff less appealing to investors.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Still, Friday ranked as one of the most unexpected breakdowns in international sports since Germany humiliated host Brazil, 7-1, at the 2014 soccer World Cup.—
Bora Erden,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Be ashamed and humiliated and would have apologized.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This friend group is so poisoned.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In 2016, dozens of residents from a subdivision about 20 miles from the Boarmans’ home sued oil giant ConocoPhillips, alleging that years of improper oil field waste disposal had poisoned their drinking water.—
Nick Bowlin,
The Frontier,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hefner said the photos should be destroyed.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
And in the late 1980s, after Little Saigon found official recognition, freeway and street signs directing people to the community were frequently defaced and destroyed in disapproval, Hua said.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subverted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subverted. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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