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

---

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

---

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

I take a perverse satisfaction in rushing off toward Dara, planning to drop her food and finally find my escape route.

From Literature

It said the low level of the standard benefit "creates a logical – but perverse - incentive for people to claim the health element too".

From BBC

“Disconnect from every algorithm / Every perverse incentive / That drags you down,” from the comparatively loose and casual title track, is another example.

From The Wall Street Journal

Immigration rights advocates called this claim “perverse” and illogical.

From Los Angeles Times

“The most perverse scenario … is a further equities grind sideways to slightly down, but no crash/no shocks,” he said.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• contradictory
• wicked