1
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
how can you be so cheerful one day, and so perverse the next?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
-
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
-
Bruce Springsteen called the Trump administration 'corrupt, incompetent and treasonous.' Bruce Springsteen didn't back down.—
Chris Jordan,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
Jet fuel rolled down the street and the smell of it lingered in the air while authorities worked to extinguish one stubborn car fire that sent smoke billowing up.—
John Hanna,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2025
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Of course, stubborn coach Tom Thibodeau went with his only play, a Jalen Brunson iso, while the starters huffed and puffed from playing nearly the entire game.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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But lingering beneath the surface of his success, Favre had a pattern of inappropriate behavior off the field, including a high-profile tabloid scandal that erupted in 2010, and most recently, the largest case of public fraud in Mississippi’s history.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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As the rebel Jen (Michelle Williams) comes to town, and Pacey (Joshua Jackson) carries on an inappropriate relationship with his teacher, that turns out to be the case. 23.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Ethan just held onto a plane in mid-air, beat the bad guy, and defeated a god-like artificial intelligence averting the fiery nuclear death of all humanity.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
-
Adding a salt rim elevates your glass, but for a spicy kick, use Halo Del Santo, a cocktail garnish made with salt, fiery chiles and a touch of citrus.—
Jeanette Hurt,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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For example, sponsor initiatives to restore degraded ecosystems, protect endangered species or support reforestation.—
Jamie Houston,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 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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Trump, who has painted past legal cases against him as an improper political use of law enforcement, has in a number of instances called for probes of his foes.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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The report alleges a range of major violations plaguing St. Hope Public Schools — including conflicts of interests among its top officers, improper use of public funding, deficient accounting processes and the employment of a largely unqualified teaching staff.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perverse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perverse. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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