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
But Raman — whose husband is veteran 30 Rock writer and producer Vali Chandrasekaran — has quietly subverted her showy target in a way befitting that series.
—
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2026
Last year, the struggle ended—or, at least, got subverted.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 26 May 2026
New York Tendaberry, released in the fall of 1969, mostly consists of Nyro alone at the piano, delivering songs that eschewed and subverted most of the characteristics that had won her attention and adoration throughout the preceding decade.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 24 May 2026
Kardashian subverted expectations at the 2021 Met Gala by arriving in a face-covering body stocking by Balenciaga.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
There are parts of his past that he’s really subverted, some quite painful but undeniable on his part.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Whenever his work started to become familiar to his viewers, Chan subverted expectations and made something new.
—Dawn Chan, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
The series offered a look at Mormon moms in Utah that subverted viewers’ expectations.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Republicans and Democrats, left and right—both are being subverted by anti-Semitism within.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2026
Last year, the struggle ended—or, at least, got subverted.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 26 May 2026
New York Tendaberry, released in the fall of 1969, mostly consists of Nyro alone at the piano, delivering songs that eschewed and subverted most of the characteristics that had won her attention and adoration throughout the preceding decade.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 24 May 2026
Kardashian subverted expectations at the 2021 Met Gala by arriving in a face-covering body stocking by Balenciaga.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
There are parts of his past that he’s really subverted, some quite painful but undeniable on his part.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Whenever his work started to become familiar to his viewers, Chan subverted expectations and made something new.
—Dawn Chan, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
The series offered a look at Mormon moms in Utah that subverted viewers’ expectations.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Republicans and Democrats, left and right—both are being subverted by anti-Semitism within.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subverted
Verb
-
Systems must remain safe not only when components fail naturally, but when data is corrupted, communication is interrupted or execution is violated.—
John Wall,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
And then Grisebach uses that distaff twist once again, to comment more broadly on the patriarchal nature and gendered violence of power structures corrupted by historical conflict.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Since the fires first erupted, officials have urged people with respiratory or other health concerns to remain indoors as smoke has degraded air quality across Miami-Dade and Broward counties.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
-
China uses nearly half of the world’s construction sand and gravel, a habit that has severely degraded fragile river ecosystems.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, his ability in recent months to command functioning majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives has weakened considerably.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
The study finds that auto-renewal generated higher revenue in the medium term, but the advantage weakened as the subscriber count and engagement picture deteriorated.—
HEC Paris Insights,
Forbes.com,
18 June 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
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The bureau said in May that her condition had deteriorated and medical devices and medications were supporting her lung and kidney functions, AFP reported.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
Prices have steadily climbed as the cattle herd shrank to its lowest levels in 75 years, while the prospects for rebuilding supplies have deteriorated in recent weeks.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
There’s the stepover loved by the two Ronaldos (Cristiano and Nazario, the original from Brazil), the two-touch turn that took off on a video game, and the hocus pocus skill that humiliated one Brazil legend and earned another a free meal.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Bryan’s stumbling responses, under questioning from the legendary defense lawyer Clarence Darrow, left him humiliated.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Last year, harmful algae blooming off Southern California poisoned hundreds of dolphins and sea lions off Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, causing strandings along popular beaches.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
15 June 2026
-
Thalib, a leading human rights activist and founder of KontraS who was poisoned with arsenic on a flight to Amsterdam.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The crash sparked a fire that destroyed the aircraft, which was operating as a skydiving flight, according to the NTSB.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
The fire burned more than 60 acres and destroyed several structures, including homes, according to CBS Los Angeles.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subverted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subverted. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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