subversive 1 of 2

noun

Definition of subversivenext
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

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subversive

2 of 2

adjective

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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversive
  1. rebel
  2. violent
  3. insurgent
  4. revolutionary
  5. anarchist
Noun
  • At the Court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly.
    SARAH EL DEEB, arkansasonline.com, 10 Dec. 2024
  • As Bashar al-Assad's government collapsed and Syrian rebels rose to power, Israel embarked on an extensive bombing campaign, purportedly aimed at disarming extremists who may rise to power during the unrest.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of rebel
Adjective
  • After a violent campaign in which Buddhists killed a number of priests and destroyed churches, in 1909, locals built the church that Galipeau visited in Cizhong.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Prosecutors also said that some of the violent pornography Heuermann owned included methods consistent with the injuries to Mack's body and how she was bound with ropes.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of violent
Noun
  • Initially a religious movement focused on promoting Yemen's Zaidi Shiite Muslim community, Ansar Allah grew into a powerful insurgent group that captured large swathes of northern territory, including Sanaa, between late 2014 and early 2015.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
  • The country is now largely under the control of an insurgent group named Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of insurgent
Adjective
  • Reade, who is mostly sympathetic to Satan, casts the rebel angels as revolutionary subjects.
    Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
  • This revolutionary feature soon to be available, will allow users to stream audio directly from public systems — like gym TVs, airport announcements, or museum exhibits—to their hearing aids or earbuds.
    Bill Schiffmiller, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
Definition of revolutionary
Noun
  • Their dilemmas evoke our disregard of the vacancy in Antifa anarchists and our encouragement of gender dysphoria.
    Armond White, National Review, 25 Sep. 2024
  • Oh, and Josh and CJ meet with some crazy mapmakers, and Toby hangs out with anarchists. 50.
    Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2024
Definition of anarchist
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near subversive

subversions

subversive

subversives

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Cite this Entry

“Subversive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversive. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on subversive

Nglish: Translation of subversive for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of subversive for Arabic Speakers

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