perverse

adjective

per·​verse (ˌ)pər-ˈvərs 

ˈpər-ˌvərs

1

a

: turned away from what is right or good : corrupt

b

: improper, incorrect

c

: contrary to the evidence or the direction of the judge on a point of law

perverse verdict

2

a

: obstinate in opposing what is right, reasonable, or accepted : wrongheaded

b

: arising from or indicative of stubbornness or obstinacy

3

: marked by peevishness or petulance : cranky

4

: marked by perversion

perversely adverb

perverseness noun

perversity

pər-ˈvər-sə-tē 

-stē

noun

Synonyms

• choleric
• crabby
• cranky
• cross
• crotchety
• fiery
• grouchy
• grumpy
• irascible
• irritable
• peevish
• pettish
• petulant
• prickly
• quick-tempered
• raspy
• ratty
• short-tempered
• snappish
• snappy
• snarky
• snippety
• snippy
• stuffy
• testy
• waspish

Choose the Right Synonym for perverse

contrary, perverse, restive, balky, wayward mean inclined to resist authority or control.

contrary implies a temperamental unwillingness to accept orders or advice.

a contrary child

perverse may imply wrongheaded, determined, or cranky opposition to what is reasonable or normal.

a perverse, intractable critic

restive suggests unwillingness or inability to submit to discipline or follow orders.

tired soldiers growing restive

balky suggests a refusing to proceed in a desired direction or course of action.

a balky witness

wayward suggests strong-willed capriciousness and irregularity in behavior.

a school for wayward youths

Examples of perverse in a Sentence

their perverse cruelty to animals

She has a perverse fascination with death.

He seems to take perverse pleasure in making things as difficult as possible.

His friends all enjoy his perverse sense of humor.

Is this some kind of perverse joke?

Recent Examples on the Web

The game of hide-and-seek has been played by schoolchildren for at least two millennia, and its appearance, in this perverse new context, only heightens the sense of panic. —Simon Parkin, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025

His voice in his 80s is way better than his voice in his early 70s was, which is sort of this perverse thing, so the Wolfman went away. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2025

That’s because the agency’s duty is to stand in the way of businesses desiring to push unsafe and ineffective nostrums at unwary consumers, and also in the way of a perverse idea that personal freedom includes the freedom to be gulled by charlatans. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025

The gamification of wildfire containment has raised ethical questions about a system that could, in theory, offers gamblers a perverse incentive to find ways to prolong the devastation in order to win their bets. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French purvers, pervers, from Latin perversus, from past participle of pervertere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing perverse

• polymorphous perverse

Kids Definition

perverse

adjective

per·​verse (ˌ)pər-ˈvərs 

ˈpər-ˌvərs

1

: morally bad : corrupt

2

: stubborn in opposing what is right, reasonable, or accepted : wrongheaded

3

: irritable, cranky

4

: marked by perversion : perverted

perversely adverb

perverseness noun

Medical Definition

perverse

adjective

per·​verse pər-ˈvərs 

: being, relating to, or characterized by perversion

perverse sexual behavior