perverse

American  

[per-vurs] / pərˈvɜrs /

adjective

1. willfully determined or disposed to go counter to what is expected or desired; contrary.

   Synonyms:

   disobedient, contumacious

   Antonyms:

   agreeable

2. characterized by or proceeding from such a determination or disposition.

   a perverse mood.

3. wayward or cantankerous.

4. persistent or obstinate in what is wrong.

   Synonyms:

   headstrong, stubborn

   Antonyms:

   tractable

5. turned away from or rejecting what is right, good, or proper; wicked or corrupt.

   Synonyms:

   sinful, bad, evil

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perverse British  

/ pəˈvɜːs /

adjective

1. deliberately deviating from what is regarded as normal, good, or proper

2. persistently holding to what is wrong

3. wayward or contrary; obstinate; cantankerous

4. archaic perverted

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Related Words

See willful.

Other Word Forms

• perversely adverb
• perverseness noun

Etymology

Origin of perverse

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, Middle French pervers, “wicked, unnatural,” from Latin perversus “facing the wrong way, askew,” past participle of pervertere “to turn around, overturn”; pervert

Example Sentences

Applying only to certain carbon-intensive sectors, it raises prices to reflect the cost of embedded carbon and so creates a perverse incentive to outsource production of downstream goods.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a culture trained to move quickly — and rewarded for doing so — it can feel almost perverse to slow down in the kitchen.

From Salon

This could have the perverse effect of preventing the deployment of renewables even when they are cheaper than, and superior to, fossil fuels.

From The Wall Street Journal

Monday’s verdict may be perverse good news in that Mr. Lai was never going to be released until the trial was over.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rather, it is likely a combination of perverse incentives and suboptimal policies.

From Barron's

Related Words

• contradictory
• wicked