subversive

[ suhb-vur-siv ]

adjective

1. Also sub·ver·sion·ar·y [] tending or intending to subvert or overthrow, destroy, or undermine an established or existing system, especially a legally constituted government or a set of beliefs.

   Synonyms: destructive, seditious, treacherous, traitorous

noun

1. a person who adopts subversive principles or policies.

subversive

/ səbˈvɜːsɪv /

adjective

1. liable to subvert or overthrow a government, legally constituted institution, etc

noun

1. a person engaged in subversive activities, etc

Derived Forms

• subˈversiveness, noun
• subˈversively, adverb

Other Words From

• sub·versive·ly adverb
• sub·versiv·ism sub·versive·ness noun
• counter·sub·versive noun
• nonsub·versive adjective
• nonsub·versive·ly adverb
• nonsub·versive·ness noun
• self-sub·versive adjective
• unsub·versive adjective
• unsub·versive·ly adverb
• unsub·versive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of subversive¹

1635–45; < Latin subvers ( us ) (past participle of subvertere to subvert ) + -ive

Example Sentences

The TV veteran — who as someone who worked on Fox’s “Married … With Children” is familiar with subversive TV comedy — said he understands the motivation for bringing on someone like Musk.

From Washington Post

In an era when audiences have seen the Wicked Witch of the West transformed into an animal rights activist and Harley Quinn depicted as a sympathetic anti-hero, not every villain needs to be recast as a misunderstood subversive.

From Washington Post

His impersonation saw him charged as a subversive, and he had to be rescued by the American vice consul.

From Ozy

At the same time, I was learning about science and reading subversive people like Bertrand Russell.

From Nautilus

There are fights, resistance, and subversive behaviors, but through all that, there is a broad commonality.

From Washington Blade

Submission is less a novel of ideas than a political book, and of the most subversive kind.

From The Daily Beast

Miller traces his irreverent and subversive streak to a psychedelic experience during the particularly sweltering summer of 1991.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, you can read this just as a brilliant, subversive coda to a horror movie.

From The Daily Beast

Hipgnosis were at their most subversive when taking photos of the band.

From The Daily Beast

These subversive narratives were not the solution I sought to the dissonance between my expected and actual college experience.

From The Daily Beast

The worthy man is too loyal to the set rules of his acknowledged leaders, to harbour a notion so subversive and dangerous.

From Project Gutenberg

His lofty realism was subversive of popular superstitions, when logically carried out.

From Project Gutenberg

It gives assurance, at least, that no particularly wild schemes or subversive changes shall be made.

From Project Gutenberg

No question was decided in the academy without the opinion of Aristotle, though it was often subversive of that of Plato.

From Project Gutenberg

After all, lefthandedness was impious in religion, subversive to discipline in military affairs and unlisted in business.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• incendiary
• riotous