subvert
verb /səbˈvɜːt/
/səbˈvɜːrt/
(formal)Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they subvert | /səbˈvɜːt/ /səbˈvɜːrt/ |
| he / she / it subverts | /səbˈvɜːts/ /səbˈvɜːrts/ |
| past simple subverted | /səbˈvɜːtɪd/ /səbˈvɜːrtɪd/ |
| past participle subverted | /səbˈvɜːtɪd/ /səbˈvɜːrtɪd/ |
| -ing form subverting | /səbˈvɜːtɪŋ/ /səbˈvɜːrtɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] subvert (something) to try to destroy the authority of a political, religious, etc. system by attacking it secretly or indirectly synonym undermine
- [transitive] subvert something to challenge somebody’s ideas or expectations and make them consider the opposite synonym undermine
- The film subverts notions of male and female identity.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French subvertir or Latin subvertere, from sub- ‘from below’ + vertere ‘to turn’.