subvert

CEFRC1

/səbˈvɜːt/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To weaken or try to overthrow a system or authority.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To pervert, as the mind, and turn it from the truth; to corrupt; to confound.

Examples

  • Alana, stop trying to subvert the company goals.

  • Her poems subvert the dominant narrative of "Western civilization."

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
1
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /ˈsʌbvət/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To upturn convention from the foundation by undermining it (literally, to turn from beneath).

  2. To overturn from the foundation; to overthrow; to ruin utterly.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. An advertisement created by subvertising.

More examples

In context

  • , Book IV, Chapter XVIII This would be to subvert the principles and foundations of all knowledge.

  • The oppressive regime stays in power only as long as they manage to subvert the will of the people.

  • He […] razeth your cities, and subverts your towns.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The hacker tried to blank the company's secure network from the inside.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English subverten, from Old French subvertir, from Latin subvertō (“to overthrow”, literally “to underturn, turn from beneath”).