pervert

[per-vurt, pur-vert]

verb (used with object)

1. to affect with perversion.

2. to lead astray morally.

   Synonyms: demoralize, corrupt, seduce

3. to turn away from the right course.

   Synonyms: divert

4. to lead into mental error or false judgment.

   Synonyms: misguide, mislead

5. to turn to an improper use; misapply.

6. to misconstrue or misinterpret, especially deliberately; distort.

   to pervert someone's statement.

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

   Synonyms: degrade, impair, defile, pollute

8. Pathology.,  to change to what is unnatural or abnormal.

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

noun

1. a person who practices sexual perversion.

2. Pathology.,  a person affected with perversion.

3. a person who has been perverted, or turned from what is right, especially to a religious belief regarded as erroneous.

pervert

verb

1. to use wrongly or badly

2. to interpret wrongly or badly; distort

3. to lead into deviant or perverted beliefs or behaviour; corrupt

4. to debase

noun

1. a person who practises sexual perversion

Other Word Forms

• perverter noun
• pervertible adjective
• pervertibility noun
• pervertibly adverb
• nonpervertible adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pervert¹

First recorded in 1300–50; (for the verb) Middle English perverten, from Latin pervertere “to overturn, subvert,” from per- per- + vertere “to turn”; (for the noun) noun use of obsolete pervert “perverted”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pervert¹

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

Example Sentences

What follows is a chorus of anecdotes, artworks and historical fragments tracing the pervasive — and sometimes perverted — roots of our everyday technologies.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Two other people - Emma McVie, 27, and Gary Robertson 22 - also appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh and pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Read more on BBC

It’s the culture that’s skewered rather than those who adopt its perverted values.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Although there had been tribunals about his bullying behaviour, his attitude towards staff members which was very concerning, it never occurred to me that he had an unhealthy, perverted interest in children," she said.

Read more on BBC

Mohammed Jhangur, 57, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• debase 
• desecrate 
• distort 
• falsify 
• misconstrue 
• misinterpret 
• misrepresent 
• vitiate 
• warp