Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Intending or intended to subvert an established order, especially to undermine or overthrow an established government.
- noun One who advocates or is regarded as advocating subversion.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Tending to subvert; having a tendency to overthrow and ruin: with of.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Tending to subvert; having a tendency to overthrow and ruin.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Intending to
subvert ,overturn orundermine agovernment orauthority - noun a
radical supporter ofpolitical orsocial revolution
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective in opposition to a civil authority or government
- noun a radical supporter of political or social revolution
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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In the meantime, Nigerian security agencies have been investigating what they call subversive activities by some foreign correspondents.
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It took the gay-rights movement 30 years to shift from the Stonewall riots to gay marriage; now its transgender wing, long considered the most subversive, is striving for suburban normalcy too.
A Boy's Life 2008
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It took the gay-rights movement 30 years to shift from the Stonewall riots to gay marriage; now its transgender wing, long considered the most subversive, is striving for suburban normalcy too.
A Boy's Life 2008
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It took the gay-rights movement 30 years to shift from the Stonewall riots to gay marriage; now its transgender wing, long considered the most subversive, is striving for suburban normalcy too.
A Boy's Life 2008
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It took the gay-rights movement 30 years to shift from the Stonewall riots to gay marriage; now its transgender wing, long considered the most subversive, is striving for suburban normalcy too.
A Boy's Life 2008
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Like all great art, his plays remain subversive because they have the power to pull us out of the routines and the regulations of our conventional lives.
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If you or someone you know has engaged in subversive acts or thoughts, call 1-866-445-6580.
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A subversive is one who works to undermine the structures and shibboleths of society.
A meme by any other name superversive 2006
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In many cities there are movements for an easygoing "alternative carnival" which rests on the same historic roots, but is again subversive, funny and unrespectful.
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Calling opinions in this forum subversive is typical of neocon, nay, facist inability to separate church and state.
Think Progress » Frist and Torture: What Did He Know and When Did He Know It? 2005
bilby commented on the word subversive
Have you been subversive today?
January 31, 2009
plethora commented on the word subversive
I don't think I've ever been subversive :(
January 31, 2009
yarb commented on the word subversive
Once you realise you're being subversive, you're no longer being subversive.
January 31, 2009
bilby commented on the word subversive
Have you been subversive today, and perhaps forgotten?
January 31, 2009
plethora commented on the word subversive
Maybe, but don't remind me because that'll ruin it.
January 31, 2009
reesetee commented on the word subversive
Is it more subversive not to admit you've been subversive or to admit you've been subversive?
Never mind.
February 1, 2009
Stephy2011 commented on the word subversive
overthrow and ruin. nice.
October 5, 2011
csiders09 commented on the word subversive
I love the example that was used! As artists we tend to be very rebellious against the policies that enforced in society. So we write about the government being overthrown.
October 5, 2011