as in corrupting
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
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Recent Examples of subverting
And her co-stars—Jacob Elordi as a brooding Heathcliff, Alison Oliver as an angelic Isabella Linton, Hong Chau as a steely Nelly Dean, and Shazad Latif as a swaggering Edgar Linton—would also be subverting our expectations.
—
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2026
After collaborating with Sotheby’s on a 2024 installation of Impressionism, for which they were tasked with subverting assumptions of the movement, the duo are now conceiving the company’s new restaurant, Marcel, named after the architect.
—Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 8 Jan. 2026
So, yes, the Cinderella vibes are strong here, but Bridgerton is best when subverting the fairy tale tropes at its foundation.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Dec. 2025
Advertisement In an action media landscape of dark, twisted dramas, Study Group refuses to take itself too seriously, cleverly subverting many of the genre’s tropes.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
These committees have a reputation for reportedly denying workers the right to select their own representatives, thus subverting genuine collective dialogue, per the BHRC.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 17 Dec. 2025
The White House strategy makes the unsubstantiated claim that the populations of some European countries want an end to the war, but that their governments are subverting democratic processes and not delivering it.
—Haley Ott, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
But Markham has no interest in subverting this feeling.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
All of it—having children because her husband wanted them, putting her career on hold to tend pear trees in a midwestern suburb—might come across as out of character for Smith, who spent her formative years subverting traditional gender roles.
—Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2026
After collaborating with Sotheby’s on a 2024 installation of Impressionism, for which they were tasked with subverting assumptions of the movement, the duo are now conceiving the company’s new restaurant, Marcel, named after the architect.
—Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 8 Jan. 2026
So, yes, the Cinderella vibes are strong here, but Bridgerton is best when subverting the fairy tale tropes at its foundation.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Dec. 2025
Advertisement In an action media landscape of dark, twisted dramas, Study Group refuses to take itself too seriously, cleverly subverting many of the genre’s tropes.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
These committees have a reputation for reportedly denying workers the right to select their own representatives, thus subverting genuine collective dialogue, per the BHRC.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 17 Dec. 2025
The White House strategy makes the unsubstantiated claim that the populations of some European countries want an end to the war, but that their governments are subverting democratic processes and not delivering it.
—Haley Ott, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
But Markham has no interest in subverting this feeling.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
All of it—having children because her husband wanted them, putting her career on hold to tend pear trees in a midwestern suburb—might come across as out of character for Smith, who spent her formative years subverting traditional gender roles.
—Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subverting
Verb
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But now, federal prosecutors say Hennen is the fixer behind the biggest point-shaving scandal in history, accused of bribing 39 college players, corrupting 17 programs and fixing — or trying fix — 29 games to enrich himself and other gamblers.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
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Blakeney then recruited other players on the team, corrupting the integrity of games, according to the indictment.—
Paulina Dedaj , Ryan Morik , Andrew Fone,
FOXNews.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Military planners outlined potential operational concepts aimed at degrading the program, including strikes on key manufacturing and development sites.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Making buses free risks degrading performance.—
Josh Appel,
Washington Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the big problem is why the dollar is weakening.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
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Nevertheless, proponents of the theory have suggested without evidence that the substation’s electromagnetic fields could be damaging players’ soft tissues and weakening their tendons.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The brand, which was based on changing the status quo and perverting common ideas, was a success and Babenzien learned how to build a business.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But when the other side is destroying it, there are worse things to be than the alternative.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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The European Union is moving forward with its ban on destroying unsold clothing, footwear and accessories.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Individuals close to Bass confirmed her involvement in diluting the report.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Feb. 2026
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In the Texas case, by contrast, the DOJ had argued a lower court got it wrong when ruling the new Texas map likely discriminated against racial minorities by diluting the voting power of Hispanic and Black Texans.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In addition to default notices, a group of commercial property owners at Blackhawk Plaza have filed a lawsuit in Contra Costa County Superior Court that paints a picture of deteriorating conditions at the once-vibrant shopping center.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Harris said the mad dash to achieve human-level AI could create harmful incentives for unchecked growth, ultimately deteriorating safety, security, and economic well-being.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There are even tales of them poisoning people and holding funerals for their dead.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Officials in both Hong Kong and Beijing defended the case against Lai, with the city’s leader John Lee accusing the newspaper of inciting violence and poisoning young minds.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subverting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subverting. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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