as in rebel
someone who tries to overthrow or undermine a governing power
They were outted as subversives and exiled from the country.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in violent
seeking to overthrow or undermine a governing power
A subversive organization determined to unseat a leader who they believed operated outside the law.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversive
Noun
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Yemen’s Houthi rebels continue to attack shipping traffic through the Red Sea, but an emboldened Israel has scored direct hits against its fighters, including inside Yemen itself.—
Ian Bremmer,
TIME,
2 Feb. 2025 -
Though it is touted by many as the world’s best missile defense, attacks by Iran last year showed that the Iron Done is far from unbeatable, with projectiles fired by Tehran and Houthi rebels landing in Israel.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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After the end of the apartheid regime, Tutu also served as chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was established to investigate acts of violence committed both by government forces and violent activists.—
Joanne M. Pierce,
The Conversation,
28 Jan. 2025
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The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is intent on changing the script of American cities plagued by crime by implementing policy changes that have led to violent crime taking a tumble.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
Fox News,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
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As was the case in the Middle East and Afghanistan, ISIS' West Africa Province (ISWAP) cultivated local partnerships by capitalizing on existing conflicts between government forces and insurgents, including Nigeria's powerful Boko Haram, to establish itself as a major player in the region.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
19 Jan. 2025
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After the election, Craig, who is 52 and was first elected in 2018, took on the old guard again, launching an insurgent challenge against two much more senior, septuagenarian lawmakers to be the top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee.—
Scott Wong,
NBC news,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This week's quiz highlights soda switches, baseball brilliance, revolutionary recipes and more.—
Sydney Borchers,
Fox News,
27 Jan. 2025
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In the role of the revolutionary being tortured by his jailers, Diego Luna puts his own stamp on the role made famous four decades ago by the late Raul Julia. CONDON: Just as Jennifer was the first and only choice, so was Diego.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And Birmingham, the son of a police officer and a mom who did social work, admit to being something of an anarchist.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
3 Feb. 2025
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Naturally, that makes a hero of the last president to pull it off — even if McKinley did so reluctantly and had more than a few regrets before he was assassinated by an anarchist.—
David E. Sanger,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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Thesaurus Entries Near subversive
Cite this Entry
“Subversive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversive. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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