pervert 1 of 2

pervert

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verb

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as in to abuse
to put to a bad or improper use accused of perverting the Internal Revenue Service by using it to harass political opponents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pervert different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of pervert are corrupt, debase, debauch, deprave, and vitiate. While all these words mean "to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character," pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal.

perverted the original goals of the institute

Where would corrupt be a reasonable alternative to pervert?

While the synonyms corrupt and pervert are close in meaning, corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity.

the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language

When might debase be a better fit than pervert?

The words debase and pervert can be used in similar contexts, but debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity.

commercialism has debased the holiday

When is debauch a more appropriate choice than pervert?

The meanings of debauch and pervert largely overlap; however, debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence.

the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew

When would deprave be a good substitute for pervert?

While in some cases nearly identical to pervert, deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences.

the claim that society is depraved by pornography

In what contexts can vitiate take the place of pervert?

The words vitiate and pervert are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect.

a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pervert
Noun
The moral of this story is simple: The Russian prison system, the Federal Penitentiary Service, is run by a collection of perverts. Alexei Navalny, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024 If Comrade Walz and Comrade Harris win this November, the people cheering will be the pink-haired Marxists, the looters, perverts, flag-burners, Hamas supporters, drug dealers, gun-grabbers, and human traffickers. Keely Bastow, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Aug. 2024
Verb
Crypto in its perfect form would protect people in parts of the world where money’s sole purpose as a production-for-production exchange medium is being perverted by governments. John Tamny, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 To many at the time, gay meant perverted and—as Hujar and so many like him lay dying—diseased. Benjamin Moser, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pervert 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pervert
Noun
  • At another point, a surface-to-air missile takes out a passenger airliner, something that really happened — but the attack is as purposeless here as the tragic original event, other than to remind us that Valet, who surveys the wreckage for valuables, is a degenerate.
    Boris Fishman, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
  • On The Challenge: Battle of the Eras, these now-geriatric degenerates will duke it out for the only prize worth fighting for: making their kids proud.
    Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2024
Verb
  • The movie, named after a popular 1950s song, evoked and distorted the midcentury suburban fantasy.
    Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Trump, who pulled out of his own planned interview with CBS, had alleged CBS had distorted the interview to aid Harris.
    David Folkenflik, NPR, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The media, the intelligence community, the military, law enforcement — by this screen legend’s usual estimation, these are potentially noble, valuable institutions corrupted from within.
    A.A. Dowd, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The two companies are suing the federal government, contending that politics corrupted its review process.
    Santul Nerkar, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • During the tantrum, the child verbally abuses the parent and also destroys property within the home.
    Samantha Mann, Parents, 27 Jan. 2025
  • The series concluded earlier in January after exploring how Grace, who was legally proven to be 21 years old, was abused by two adoptive families before finding her current fresh start with a new family, Vincent and Nicole DePaul.
    Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • His affinity for wrestling villains, or heels, adds another layer to his potential return.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
  • His villains include both Presidents Bush; his heroes stretch back to William McKinley but include Richard Nixon, who raised tariffs in response to low-cost manufacturing from Asia, and, Lighthizer insists, Ronald Reagan.
    Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The company will also be banned from misrepresenting loot box odds, prices, and features, and will need to allow users to buy them with money instead of in-game virtual currency.
    Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth.
    Jack Smart, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The brand subverts the ideal of regular clothing by selling clothing that has distinct detailing alongside excellent materials.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Mayes’s request comes as Garland is waging a legal battle to release the portion of Smith’s two-volume final report regarding the special counsel’s findings on Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 election results.
    Ella Lee, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Prosecutors alleged that the funds were initially returned to Pakistan by British authorities in 2022 to be deposited into the national treasury but were misused.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Detractors believe Biden has misused his executive power and hope the incoming administration will roll back the president’s actions.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near pervert

Cite this Entry

“Pervert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pervert. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pervert

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