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

Tregonning admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

From BBC

A serving Metropolitan Police office has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice over an allegation linked to a BBC Panorama investigation.

From BBC

Reprehensible such people may be, but they are motivated by a kind of perverted idealism.

From Salon

A separate investigation of officers' behaviour in north-west London has led to a detective inspector being charged with perverting the course of justice.

From BBC

He called transgender people “perverted,” the acknowledgment of transgender identities “one of the most destructive social contagions in human history,” and gender-affirming care for young people an “unimaginable evil.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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