as in degrades
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 subverts
Although the Western genre is an ever-present influence, Grisebach subverts some of its tropes.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 22 May 2026
The story begins on a train, somewhat subverts the typical strangers-on-a-train narrative in which a chance encounter leads to a love story (that is, the Linklater version rather than the Hitchcock one).
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
The play subverts itself, never allowing an audience to gain a commanding foothill, even at the end when (suffice it to say) the watchers become the watched.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
With Manhunt, Felker-Martin subverts this convention, creating a post-contagion world in which trans women (and men and nonbinary people) not only exist but tell the story themselves across multiple viewpoint characters.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
While most women figure skaters are known to sport pristine buns and dance to very predictable classics and pop songs, Alysa Liu subverts the norm.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 20 Feb. 2026
Gourault often subverts the extractivist logic of new media technologies and employs open-source investigation in the production of his films.
—Farren Fei Yuan, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
The textured outer elevates even the most basic outfits, while the oxblood hue subtly subverts expectations.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
The razor-sharp slasher, which leans into and subverts genre tropes, also stars Drew Barrymore, Neve Campbell, Rose McGowan, Courtney Cox, Jamie Kennedy and David Arquette, among others.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2025
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 22 May 2026
The story begins on a train, somewhat subverts the typical strangers-on-a-train narrative in which a chance encounter leads to a love story (that is, the Linklater version rather than the Hitchcock one).
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
The play subverts itself, never allowing an audience to gain a commanding foothill, even at the end when (suffice it to say) the watchers become the watched.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
With Manhunt, Felker-Martin subverts this convention, creating a post-contagion world in which trans women (and men and nonbinary people) not only exist but tell the story themselves across multiple viewpoint characters.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
While most women figure skaters are known to sport pristine buns and dance to very predictable classics and pop songs, Alysa Liu subverts the norm.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 20 Feb. 2026
Gourault often subverts the extractivist logic of new media technologies and employs open-source investigation in the production of his films.
—Farren Fei Yuan, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
The textured outer elevates even the most basic outfits, while the oxblood hue subtly subverts expectations.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026
The razor-sharp slasher, which leans into and subverts genre tropes, also stars Drew Barrymore, Neve Campbell, Rose McGowan, Courtney Cox, Jamie Kennedy and David Arquette, among others.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subverts
Verb
-
Unlike conventional electronics that rely on plastics and heavy metals, the MEG degrades safely after use.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
24 May 2026
-
It gets tested every year because the device degrades and conditions change.—
Barbara Wittmann,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Subtract what weakens the system.—
Nilton Bernini,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Teams evolve at different speeds, innovation concentrates among a small subset of employees, and trust across the organization weakens.—
Matt Rosenbaum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
One nanny will try to get to the bottom of it before all the partying, power and privilege corrupts her.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The criticism most often leveled at proposals to support journalism is that government money corrupts editorial independence, which is a very real concern.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Then comes the eruption of a giant, bright fireball that destroys the rocket and its launchpad.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
29 May 2026
-
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that a person needs to walk, talk, swallow and breathe, according to the ALS Assn.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Incompetent leadership humiliates us on the global stage.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
And the President doesn’t seem to mind if Vance humiliates himself running errands.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Cynical congressional map dilutes Black voting power to target a kingmaker.—
Kathleen Parker,
Washington Post,
15 May 2026
-
The complaint also claims that the image deceives customers into thinking Lipa has endorsed the product and dilutes her brand identity.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Because when executives aren’t safe to respectfully and directly challenge each other, the room grows quieter, and leadership quality deteriorates.—
Terina Allen,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Directed by Martin Scorsese, the neo-noir psychological drama follows De Niro as a taxi driver whose mental state deteriorates while working night shifts in New York City.—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Most frustratingly, the secret traitor demeans us, the audience.—
Raven Smith,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2026
-
That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subverts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subverts. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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