GamesDaily CrosswordWord PuzzleWord FinderAll gamesFeaturedWord of the DayWord of the YearNew wordsLanguage storiesAll featuredCultureSlangEmojiMemesAcronymsGender and sexualityAll cultureWriting tipsWriting hubGrammar essentialsCommonly confusedAll writing tipsGamesFeaturedCultureWriting tipsAdvertisementSkip toSkip tosubvertverb (used with object) (3)AdvertisementView synonyms for AmericanBritishsubvert[suhb-vurt]Phonetic (Standard)IPAverb (used with object)to overthrow (something established or existing).Synonyms: , , , , to cause the downfall, ruin, or destruction of.to undermine the principles of; corrupt.subvert/ səbˈvɜːt /verbto bring about the complete downfall or ruin of (something existing or established by a system of law, etc)to undermine the moral principles of (a person, etc); corrupt“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012Discover MoreOther Word Formssubverter noununsubverted adjectiveDiscover MoreWord History and OriginsOrigin of subvert11325–75; Middle English subverten < Latin subvertere to overthrow, equivalent to sub- + vertere to turnDiscover MoreWord History and OriginsOrigin of subvert1C14: from Latin subvertere to overturn, from sub- from below + vertere to turnDiscover MoreExample SentencesExamples have not been reviewed.The prosecution argued that procedural rules of the committee were subverted, through secret messages before the meeting between the three defendants.From This is the predictable result of the recent rise of authoritarian regimes which, to a greater or lesser extent, work to subvert and dismantle the institutions and practices of democracy and the rule of law.From Sentencing, Lord Arthurson said each of the men were "self-serving, arrogant and mendacious", adding they had "subverted public trust in NHS management".From “Will & Grace” further subverted the gay bestie trope by assigning Will his own gay best friend, Sean Hayes’ Jack.From While destroying and subverting the civil rights infrastructure, the administration also aims to unravel essential civil rights legal frameworks for addressing modern-day discrimination.From AdvertisementDiscover MoreRelated Words AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBrowse#aabbccddeeffgghhiijjkkllmmnnooppqqrrssttuuvvwwxxyyzzContact usDo not sell my infoFollow usGet the Word of the Day every day!Sign upBy clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com © 2025 Dictionary.com, LLC, The meaning of SUBVERT is to overturn or overthrow from the foundation : ruin. How to use subvert in a sentence., SUBVERT definition: 1. to try to destroy or damage something, especially an established political system: 2. to try to…. Learn more..