as in to degrade
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 subvert
The headquarters of China’s state television service, in Beijing, consists of two angled towers conjoined at the top, and was meant to subvert clichés of skyscraper design.
—
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
This time around, the writers subvert the whole concept of having an In Memorian section at all.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025
Romance writers are excellent at combining tropes, of subverting the traditional view of a trope, and applying tropes to an infinite number of new settings, characters, and conflicts.
—Denise Williams, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Barnes has continued reinventing Of Montreal over the past two decades, steadily releasing new albums that subvert expectations, most recently 2024’s Lady on the Cusp.
—Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subvert
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
This time around, the writers subvert the whole concept of having an In Memorian section at all.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025
Romance writers are excellent at combining tropes, of subverting the traditional view of a trope, and applying tropes to an infinite number of new settings, characters, and conflicts.
—Denise Williams, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Barnes has continued reinventing Of Montreal over the past two decades, steadily releasing new albums that subvert expectations, most recently 2024’s Lady on the Cusp.
—Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subvert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subvert
Verb
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Most microplastics are made on land, where larger plastic debris degrades into tinier and tinier pieces.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
7 Mar. 2025
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The other reason is that our news ecosystem is rapidly degrading, particularly online.—
Jeffrey Blehar,
National Review,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In the fourth quarter of 2024, WK Kellogg reported net sales of $640 million, a decrease of 1.7% compared to $651 million in the same period in 2023, impacted by a 5.6% volume decline and a 40 basis point headwind from the weakening Canadian dollar.—
Joe Cornell,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Fed officials are closely monitoring inflation and the labor market for signs of a potentially weakening economy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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It has been corrupted over time into something like a generalized celebration of Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and the other 43 highly varied men who preceded them in holding the nation’s highest office.—
The Editors,
National Review,
17 Feb. 2025
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If green ever corrupted itself with red, both would end up the same brown mud.—
Jackson Arn,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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This is a major U-turn from Riot, after completely revamping the rewards system at the start of the year and being destroyed by fans for it.—
Mike Stubbs,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
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Lost in a sea of ash: When wildfire destroys a home — and a loved one’s urn — the search begins.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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No, Trump Did Not ‘Bring Back Free Speech’ An August 2024 report by Columbia’s task force on antisemitism found that Jews and Israelis at Columbia were often ostracized and humiliated on campus.—
Solcyré Burga,
TIME,
7 Mar. 2025
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Committee Chairman James Comer will use the hearing to humiliate blue-city mayors and to please the White House and fire up his extremist MAGA base.—
Peter Cunningham,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Only by allowing himself to be debased can this man actually come to understand God.—
Kevin Lincoln,
Vulture,
20 Jan. 2025
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His illuminating backstage account of cable news describes thoughtful journalists debasing themselves in their scramble to retain straying viewers.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Sergio Pino’s attorney Deanna Shifrin denied the poisoning allegations, pointing to comments Tatiana made in a December 2023 deposition stating that no healthcare provider had concluded she had been poisoned.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2025
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Today sends a message to every cartel leader, every trafficker, every criminal poisoning our communities: You will be held accountable.—
Polo Sandoval,
CNN,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Brands dilute their messaging to reach the widest audience possible.—
Angelique Kuiper,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2025
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While the absence of inclusion for people of color, women, and the economically disadvantaged remains painfully evident, true inclusion could potentially dilute the distinct cultural characteristics that have enriched our communities and our nation.—
Lewis M. Rambo,
Twin Cities,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subvert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subvert. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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