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

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

From Barron's

PBMs have perverse incentives to discriminate against the sick in favor of the healthy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jones said PCCs had sought to provide strong oversight and tackle crime but the model "weakened local police accountability and has had perverse impacts on the recruitment of chief constables."

From BBC

That Grimes would turn that perverse feeling into a party is no surprise.

From Salon

Both took an almost perverse pride in going without, as if they remained under a permanent system of wartime rationing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• contradictory
• wicked