pervert

[ verb per-vurt; noun pur-vert ]

/ verb pərˈvɜrt; noun ˈpɜr vərt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pervert ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to affect with perversion.

to lead astray morally.

to turn away from the right course.

to lead into mental error or false judgment.

to turn to an improper use; misapply.

to misconstrue or misinterpret, especially deliberately; distort: to pervert someone's statement.

to bring to a less excellent state; vitiate; debase.

Pathology. to change to what is unnatural or abnormal.

to convert or persuade to a religious belief regarded as false or wrong.

noun

a person who practices sexual perversion.

Pathology. a person affected with perversion.

a person who has been perverted, especially to a religious belief regarded as erroneous.

Nearby words

pervasive, perverse, perversion, perversity, perversive, pervert, perverted, pervicacious, pervious, pervouralsk, perón

Origin of pervert

1300–50; (v.) Middle English perverten < Latin pervertere to overturn, subvert, equivalent to per- per- + vertere to turn; (noun) noun use of obsolete pervert perverted

SYNONYMS FOR pervert

2 seduce, corrupt, demoralize.

3 divert.

4 mislead, misguide.

7 pollute, defile; impair, degrade.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pervert ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

per·vert·er, nounper·vert·i·ble, adjectiveper·vert·i·bil·i·ty, nounper·vert·i·bly, adverb

non·per·vert·i·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pervert

The All Quiet on the Pervert Front has led photo-sharers on Reddit and 4chan to declare “The Fappening” dead.
‘The Fappening’ Is Dead: From A-List Hacking Victims to D-Listers Accused of Leaking Nudes For PR|Marlow Stern|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In keeping with the raucous nature of his tabloid scandal, one person shouted “Pervert!”
Weiner’s Last Words|Howard Kurtz|June 16, 2011|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for pervert

pervert

verb (pəˈvɜːt) (tr)

to use wrongly or badly

to interpret wrongly or badly; distort

to lead into deviant or perverted beliefs or behaviour; corrupt

to debase

noun (ˈpɜːvɜːt)

a person who practises sexual perversion

Derived Forms

perverter, nounpervertible, adjective

Word Origin for pervert

C14: from Old French pervertir, from Latin pervertere to turn the wrong way, from per- (indicating deviation) + vertere to turn

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012