as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
by insisting that she pay me for helping her, she subverted my noble desire to do a good deed without reward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subvert
In his second term, surrounded by loyalists and with sweeping presidential immunity from prosecution, a more powerful Trump could face fewer obstacles in attempts to subvert U.S. democracy.
—
Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 16 Jan. 2025
The former president’s sweeping and even preemptive pardons subvert ongoing legal processes and, therefore, the law.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 21 Jan. 2025
Israel’s populist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has largely avoided public clashes with the Israel Defense Force’s leadership, but politicians in his orbit have regularly attacked top officers as elites bent on subverting the will of the people.
—Ronald R. Krebs, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
In a statement to The Hill, DNC Chair Jamie Harrison said Minnesota Republicans were attempting to subvert the will of the voters by looking to take the majority and Republican leadership.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for subvert 
Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 16 Jan. 2025
The former president’s sweeping and even preemptive pardons subvert ongoing legal processes and, therefore, the law.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 21 Jan. 2025
Israel’s populist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has largely avoided public clashes with the Israel Defense Force’s leadership, but politicians in his orbit have regularly attacked top officers as elites bent on subverting the will of the people.
—Ronald R. Krebs, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
In a statement to The Hill, DNC Chair Jamie Harrison said Minnesota Republicans were attempting to subvert the will of the voters by looking to take the majority and Republican leadership.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for subvert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subvert
Verb
-
To strip her name from her and contort it into a term that is most often used to degrade artists who look like her is simply dehumanizing.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Topaz Labs View 1 Images Topaz Labs, which makes powerful photo and video enhancement software, just showed off a new AI model that automatically enhances old footage, from your home video collection to archival content that may have degraded over time on traditional media.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
In the bond market, Treasury yields fell after a report said sales at U.S. retailers weakened by much more last month than economists expected.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2025
-
His executive order, unless reversed by the courts, will encourage greater corruption in Latin America, hurting the region’s economies, weakening democratic institutions and making countries poorer.—
Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Moreover, much of the Republican Party now embraces the idea that America’s institutions—from the federal bureaucracy and public schools to the media and private universities—have been corrupted by left-wing ideologies.—
STEVEN LEVITSKY,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Putin believes in authoritarianism, in a strong Russian state, in the rehabilitation of the country’s Soviet past, and in a Russian civilization that is superior to a West corrupted by secularism and individualism.—
Rich Lowry,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
In addition to Meester and Brody, Cameron Mathison, Anna Faris, Ricki Lake, Cary Elwes and Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag were among the stars who confirmed that their homes were also destroyed.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
8 Feb. 2025
-
The storm destroyed every structure on the island, wiping out the concert stage, tiki bar, giant slide and food truck.—
Gabrielle Calise Tampa Bay Times (TNS),
arkansasonline.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The biggest threat facing the pair is senior MI6 official Jim Richardson (Hugh Bonneville), who has been keeping tabs on the Sudanese, and sees in Martian’s love for Samia an opportunity to both humiliate and strong-arm his former ally into sharing CIA secrets.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Someone may be a masochist but not into being humiliated.—
Fran Tirado,
Them,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
His illuminating backstage account of cable news describes thoughtful journalists debasing themselves in their scramble to retain straying viewers.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Only by allowing himself to be debased can this man actually come to understand God.—
Kevin Lincoln,
Vulture,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
With Tranquil Pines, Matty and Olympia win their case by proving that Lucille poisoned Walter.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have long hated the British media and framed their declining popularity in the U.K. as a product of tabloids poisoning the well of public opinion.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
2 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Take the tablet straight to the furniture for scrubbing, or dilute it with water for a gentler cleanse.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2025
-
That’s not a bad thing: Even 12 years after its release, Elf remains a pretty stellar all-ages comedy that doesn’t dilute Ferrell’s manic mayhem but rather boils it down to its most accessible and lovable.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near subvert
Cite this Entry
“Subvert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subvert. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share