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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Recent Examples of subversion
The charge stemmed from an incident in February 2023 when Floyd allegedly assaulted two FBI agents sent on behalf of then-special counsel Jack Smith to serve him with a subpoena related to Smith's federal election subversion probe, according to court records.
—
Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2026
Whether a vessel for material connection, social subversion, or communal gathering, for Togar, sound has a distinct presence that requires an act of embodiment to be perceived.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
That feels like the big subversion — Silicon Valley would say innovation — with AI.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
Clown in a Cornfield may lean into its YA novel background; by the end, even the trite love triangle gets a welcome subversion.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2026
Whether a vessel for material connection, social subversion, or communal gathering, for Togar, sound has a distinct presence that requires an act of embodiment to be perceived.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
That feels like the big subversion — Silicon Valley would say innovation — with AI.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
Clown in a Cornfield may lean into its YA novel background; by the end, even the trite love triangle gets a welcome subversion.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversion
Noun
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Two years ago, the Summer Games in Paris opened under threats of political sabotage by Russia, fears of Islamist terror plots and the spillover from the Israel-Hamas war.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
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Pipeline sabotage has also stifled government revenues.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Americans have been skeptical of brown-skinned people since the days of the Alamo, always fearful Latinos are one step away from insurrection and thus must always be subjugated.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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He is now engaged in an ongoing insurrection by violating the Constitution, exceeding his lawful authorities, usurping Congress, and encouraging Republican states to manipulate voting districts and procedures.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Until now, the idea that the secretary of defense would accuse a lawmaker of treason simply for disagreeing with him would be laughable.—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
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Saudi Arabi accused the UAE of supporting the separatists, and smuggling the STC leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who is wanted for treason, out of Yemen and flying him to Abu Dhabi.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But the rebellion has also spurred a race to the bottom.—
Laura K. Field,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
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Confederate sympathizers carved up the old design, claiming the red-and-white Crossland pattern to signal rebellion loyalty.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But as unrest over immigration enforcement ramps up, Arizona activists face both opportunities and challenges.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Last November, a court in Dhaka sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for her role in the unrest, in which the UN human rights office estimates around 1,400 people were killed.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Perfidy — from the French perfidie via the Latin perfidia — means deceitfulness, treachery or a breach of faith or promise.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
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But despite all this, not every Chelsea fan outside his family will regard this transfer as treachery.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversion. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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