subversion

[suh b-vur-zhuh n, -shuh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR subversion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an act or instance of subverting.

the state of being subverted; destruction.

something that subverts or overthrows.

Origin of subversion

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin subversiōn- (stem of subversiō) an overthrowing. See sub-, version

Related formsan·ti·sub·ver·sion, nounnon·sub·ver·sion, noun

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

Related Words for subversion

destruction, sabotage, defeat, revolution, overthrow, disruption

Examples from the Web for subversion

Contemporary Examples of subversion

When the song ended, Wembore anticipated a fight and took off, pleased with the subversion of his dance.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis
Nina Strochlic
November 23, 2014
Is subversion on the horizon or will Black Jesus sacrifice a historically political concept for the sake of a stoner comedy?
‘Black Jesus’ Resurrected: Racial Stereotypes or Subversive Comedy?
Rawiya Kameir
August 8, 2014
It will be a tough task and will likely prompt yet more Russian aggression or subversion.
Pro-Russian Protesters in East Ukraine Laugh at Kiev’s Threats
David Patrikarakos
April 9, 2014
This was damage control for a man who only quit bullying and lying and subversion of the law when he finally got cornered.
You’re Over, Lance Armstrong
Buzz Bissinger
January 18, 2013
Nobel Peace Prize-winner Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in prison for subversion on Christmas Day 2009.
U.S. Businessman’s Chinese Legal Nightmare Includes Torture, Lawyers Say
Dan Levin
December 22, 2012

Historical Examples of subversion

Neither had he been anxious to exert himself for its subversion.
A Set of Six
Joseph Conrad
Therefore, the logical place to look for subversion is in the slums.
The Status Civilization
Robert Sheckley
Your jargon was 'peace,' which meant Spanish invasion and Scottish subversion.
Raleigh
Edmund Gosse
Your jargon was peace, which meant Spanish invasion and Scottish subversion.'
Sir Walter Ralegh
William Stebbing
What, but its subversion, its disseverment, by its own internal antagonism?
The Right of American Slavery
True Worthy Hoit

British Dictionary definitions for subversion

subversion

noun

the act or an instance of subverting or overthrowing a legally constituted government, institution, etc

the state of being subverted; destruction or ruin

something that brings about an overthrow

Word Origin for subversion

C14: from Late Latin subversiō destruction, from Latin subvertere to subvert

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

Word Origin and History for subversion

late 14c., "physical destruction, demolition, ruination," from Old French subversion, from Late Latin subversionem (nominative subversio) "an overthrow, ruin, destruction," from past participle stem of subvertere (see subvert).