1
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
how can you be so cheerful one day, and so perverse the next?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
social conservatives who believe that Hollywood is a perverse world that exerts an unhealthy influence on the young
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
a fact so self-evident that not even the most perverse of opponents could deny it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
a convicted criminal seemed like a perverse choice for a bank employee
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perverse
Mendonça remembers it well, demonstrating how even the worst of times can inspire a perverse sort of nostalgia.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 18 May 2025
Instead, this wonderfully weird and lyrical film — a crackling ode to the perverse operatics underpinning accidents no human can explain — lands with the full weight of a frenzied jazz band.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 13 May 2025
And this is one of the reasons why there are some people in the United States who kind of regard Putin as - as - as the savior of - of western civilization, or - or Christianity and so forth, which is obviously kind of a - a perverse view of him as well.
—CBS News, 4 May 2025
Hospitals are already leveraging 340B’s perverse incentives to enrich themselves at ordinary Americans’ expense.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for perverse
Peter Debruge, Variety, 18 May 2025
Instead, this wonderfully weird and lyrical film — a crackling ode to the perverse operatics underpinning accidents no human can explain — lands with the full weight of a frenzied jazz band.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 13 May 2025
And this is one of the reasons why there are some people in the United States who kind of regard Putin as - as - as the savior of - of western civilization, or - or Christianity and so forth, which is obviously kind of a - a perverse view of him as well.
—CBS News, 4 May 2025
Hospitals are already leveraging 340B’s perverse incentives to enrich themselves at ordinary Americans’ expense.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for perverse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perverse
Adjective
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The crew is under the supervision of the capable Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) who is prone to panic attacks as the group visits an irritable planet at the behest of The Corporation — a powerful business conglomerate where profit is indeed king.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
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It’s said to cause people to become irritable, aggravate health problems, and abrade mechanical devices.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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In fact, Evans’ plotline as the corrupt Reverend Drew essentially runs parallel to Qualley’s and the lack of intersection is a curious oversight.—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
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According to the minister, high-ranking criminals are able to use their illicit earnings to corrupt officials, and some are able to continue to run their operations from inside prison..—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Still, the stubborn media silence continued unabated.—
Nate Rogers,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
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United needed to play perfect football to unlock a stubborn defence, but struggled to push past competency.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Both the city’s account and Mayor Quinton Lucas issued online apologies that night, agreeing that the post was inappropriate.—
Mike Hendricks,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2025
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There can be a change to the list if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on another would be inappropriate.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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Boulder attack suspect’s family detained The wife and five children of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the suspect in the fiery assault on Jewish demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, have been detained by immigration officials, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
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While some brands promise heat but don’t deliver, this lives up to the hype with a fiery blast of red jalapeño and habanero chilis.—
Sabrina Weiss,
People.com,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Back staining happens when indigo dye that is released from degraded cellulose during these processes redeposits on the white portions of the garment.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
28 May 2025
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Maltz served as the lead author on a meta-analysis of how soil inoculation with different species of mycorrhizal fungi can affect degraded ecosystems.—
Lauren Oster,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Following Meghan's statements, Eldridge is adamant that her relatable role isn't convincing.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
29 May 2025
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In early previews and pre-release memos, the developers have been adamant that, despite targeting a more casual audience with some more forgiving elements, this is meant to be enjoyed by people who have spent hundreds of hours in the main game and its 2024 expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt: A 30-year-old woman from Naperville was arrested on two warrants and on charges of improper lane usage and criminal defacement of property at 2:27 a.m. May 25 in the 1500 block of Fairway Drive.—
Steve Metsch,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2025
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Zika is especially dangerous for pregnant women because it can be transmitted to the fetus, causing microcephaly (a smaller head), improper brain development, and cerebral palsy.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perverse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perverse. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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