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

Scientists must do their part to preserve and defend the scientific enterprise by doing better science, fixing the perverse incentives that encourage misconduct and making greater efforts to educate the public about how science works. —Ferric C. Fang, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2025

Weaker countries also suffer most as a result of the perverse incentives the norm produces. —Tanisha M. Fazal, Foreign Affairs, 21 Mar. 2025

Even many of those with good insurance coverage are frustrated at the system’s perverse incentives, byzantine regulations, and opaque processes. —Alana Semuels, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025

The result is a perverse incentive for states to cut services for the truly needy. —David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 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

Rhymes for perverse

• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• disperse
• diverse
• immerse
• inverse
• obverse
• rehearse
• reverse
• transverse

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