subversion
Americannoun
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an act or instance of subverting.
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the state of being subverted; destruction.
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something that subverts or overthrows.
noun
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the act or an instance of subverting or overthrowing a legally constituted government, institution, etc
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the state of being subverted; destruction or ruin
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something that brings about an overthrow
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of subversion
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin subversiōn- (stem of subversiō ) an overthrowing. See sub-, version
Explanation
Subversion means overthrowing something, like a government or law, or it can mean corrupting someone’s personal morals, like making a vegetarian eat bacon by tricking her. The Latin root subvertere means “to turn from below,” and when you turn something on its head in a sneaky way, that’s subversion. Imagine digging a hole in the ground, then covering the hole with a layer of sticks and leaves. When someone walks on it, they fall in. That’s the basic idea of subversion, attacking from below. People often use subversion to take down a corrupt government, and acts of subversion are a powerful way to protest injustice.
Vocabulary lists containing subversion
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
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This Week in Words: October 1 - 6, 2017
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My Brother Sam is Dead
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr. Ho, former chairman of the group behind the annual Tiananmen vigil, is in poor health and has pleaded guilty to inciting subversion.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026
She explored similar themes of subversion in the movie “Hedda,” a moody remake of Henrik Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler” with the title role reimagined as a bisexual, biracial woman.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026
Perversely, it’s times like these, when subversion and subtlety are required, that creativity flourishes.
From Salon • Jan. 1, 2026
There have been a deluge of examples of this subversion in recent days.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 22, 2025
“At one time they were a mark of subversion, but now they're relics.”
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
