subvert
/səbˈvɜːt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To secretly weaken, damage, or overturn a system, plan, rule, or belief. It often suggests hidden or harmful action.
- They tried to subvert the election.
- The group wanted to subvert the rules.
- Corruption can subvert trust.
Adinary Nuance
Subvert is stronger and more deliberate than weaken or change. It often suggests hidden action against a system, rule, or belief. Use it when someone is actively trying to undermine something from inside or below. It sounds more formal than ruin or break.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- lật đổ
- Spanish
- subvertir
- Chinese
- 颠覆
- Japanese
- 覆す
- Korean
- 전복하다
Etymology
Subvert comes from Latin subvertere, meaning 'overthrow' or 'turn from below'. It entered English through Old French in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
subvert authoritysubvert the systemsubvert expectationssubvert the rules
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is subvert a formal word?
- Yes. It is more formal and often appears in news, politics, and academic writing.
- What is the difference between subvert and undermine?
- Subvert usually suggests a stronger attempt to overturn something. Undermine often means to slowly weaken support or trust.
- Can I use subvert for ideas or beliefs?
- Yes. You can subvert ideas, beliefs, traditions, or systems.
- Is subvert used in everyday speech?
- Not very often. People use simpler words like break, weaken, or damage in casual speech.