as in sabotage
secret efforts to weaken or ruin a political system or government from within
They were arrested on charges of political subversion.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subversion
American allies in the region all suffer from Iranian subversion and aggression.
—
Elliott Abrams, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2025
Its telecommunications infrastructure is vulnerable to subversion.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2025
The guest curator of The Met’s exhibition, Monica L. Miller, clarifies the Black dandy’s cultural strategy of subversion in her groundbreaking exposé Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.
—Akilah Sailers, Essence, 28 Apr. 2025
Last year, five former Democratic Party lawmakers were among 45 opposition figures sentenced to prison terms of up to 10 years after they were found guilty of subversion for taking part in an election primary in 2020.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Elliott Abrams, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2025
Its telecommunications infrastructure is vulnerable to subversion.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2025
The guest curator of The Met’s exhibition, Monica L. Miller, clarifies the Black dandy’s cultural strategy of subversion in her groundbreaking exposé Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.
—Akilah Sailers, Essence, 28 Apr. 2025
Last year, five former Democratic Party lawmakers were among 45 opposition figures sentenced to prison terms of up to 10 years after they were found guilty of subversion for taking part in an election primary in 2020.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversion
Noun
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Similar sabotage acts have affected NATO member states previously, including Sweden, such as the cutting of key underwater communications cables in the Baltic, arson attacks on logistics facilities in Germany, and cyberattacks targeting defense firms.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
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Now, that’s about to happen again with Chapter 6, Season 3, which will arrive after the Death Star sabotage event tomorrow, June 7.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Although Tarrio himself was not in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, the Department of Justice viewed him as one of the masterminds of the insurrection.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2025
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This marked the second time since 2020 that Cotton publicly argued to use the 1807 law, which gives the President of the United States the authority to mobilize the active-duty military within the U.S. in the case of an insurrection.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
11 June 2025
Noun
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Lee’s campaign has asserted that a sitting president cannot be criminally prosecuted, except in cases of treason.—
Jong Eun Lee,
The Conversation,
29 May 2025
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The cost of failure would have been death on the grounds of treason.—
Daniel Twining,
National Review,
22 May 2025
Noun
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Hulu's Emmy-winning series pushed far beyond the events in Margaret Atwood's 1985 book, building to a rebellion in the totalitarian, patriarchal nation where women are dehumanized and used as vessels for breeding.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
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While there were wins for the rebellion, Gilead lives on with many of June’s strongest allies trapped there at the start of the episode, like Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and Janine (Madeline Brewer).—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
26 May 2025
Noun
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His electoral campaign had centered on the promise of putting an end to the unrest in Donbas, which had been rumbling on for years.—
Anna Batta,
The Conversation,
2 June 2025
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During last December’s unrest, the young farmer participated in a now-famous protest at Namtaeryeong, a normally quiet subway station where police were blocking the protesters’ path to Seoul.—
Yejin Gim,
Christian Science Monitor,
2 June 2025
Noun
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That’s the treachery of this world, that’s the trap.—
Lauren Coates,
Variety,
24 May 2025
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Press play below to learn more about Wells’ treachery, and to get a sneak peek at the fugitive interacting with her latest target.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversion. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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