subversive
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of subversive
1635–45; < Latin subvers ( us ) (past participle of subvertere to subvert ) + -ive
Explanation
You might want to call someone subversive if they are sneakily trying to undermine something, from the social structure of your high school to an entire system of government. You can use subversive as a noun or an adjective without changing it one whit. Note the prefix sub, meaning "underneath," with the remainder coming from the Latin vertere, "to turn." Think about a subversive as a sneaky kind of revolutionary who tries to turn the system from underneath. Art or literature is considered subversive if it attempts to undermine the dominant values and traditions of a society.
Vocabulary lists containing subversive
Unit 1: Telling Details
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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.
Last year's event showcased the subversive style of Black dandyism, and was a rare Met Gala spotlighting men and male fashion.
From Barron's • May 4, 2026
In a warped age addicted to novelty, it can seem almost subversive to return to the oldest story we have.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
“It had a subversive side to it,” Schaffner said of the annual gift.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026
Lee was voted the "most prominent contemporary Korean Writer" in 2023 by one of the country's largest book retailers after publishing her subversive debut novel, In The Age of Filiarchy.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
My loyalty to Mr. Smeath is similar to my loyalty to my brother both are on the side of ox eyeballs, toe jam under the microscope, the outrageous, the subversive.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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.
