as in sabotage
secret efforts to weaken or ruin a political system or government from within They were arrested on charges of political subversion.
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Example 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 subversion The victory would be short as Indonesia, with its original plan of political subversion thwarted, soon turned to outright military means. —
Agathe Demarolle, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026 Most concerns centered on logistics, the subversion of the approval process, and the destruction of a historic landmark. —Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 4 Mar. 2026 In one reading, Louise’s terrorist arc is a refreshing subversion of the political correctness of Cash’s millennial forebears, the Patricia Lockwoods and Sally Rooneys and Sheila Hetis of the world, who might never dream of straying from their lane of lived experience. —Malavika Kannan, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026 Amos Toh, a senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, was also among several legal experts who said that the supply chain risk designation requires the government to prove that there is a risk of sabotage, subversion, or manipulation of operations by an adversary. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subversion
Agathe Demarolle, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026 Most concerns centered on logistics, the subversion of the approval process, and the destruction of a historic landmark. —Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 4 Mar. 2026 In one reading, Louise’s terrorist arc is a refreshing subversion of the political correctness of Cash’s millennial forebears, the Patricia Lockwoods and Sally Rooneys and Sheila Hetis of the world, who might never dream of straying from their lane of lived experience. —Malavika Kannan, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026 Amos Toh, a senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, was also among several legal experts who said that the supply chain risk designation requires the government to prove that there is a risk of sabotage, subversion, or manipulation of operations by an adversary. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subversion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subversion
Noun
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The four cyberattacks are among more than 155 incidents of disruption — including arson, sabotage and espionage — linked to Russia or its proxies by Western officials and tracked by The Associated Press since Moscow's full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
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My brother, who is 10 years older, his friends were these sort of tornado people who really had this predilection for self-sabotage.— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In England chaos reaches its zenith when a Kentishman named Jack Cade, encouraged by York (who has been sent to put down a revolt in Ireland), mounts an insurrection that plays havoc in the streets of London.— Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
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Four years later, her law firm helped defend against challenges to Trump’s eligibility for the ballot because of his role in encouraging the insurrection of January 6, 2021.— Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Russia’s Federal Security Service detained a former freelance journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in eastern Siberia on charges of treason.— Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 9 Apr. 2026
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Consider this evilmeister’s brazen acts of treason and revenge, unbounded deceit, swinish immorality and negative role modeling.— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Through the personal stories of activists and intense courtroom battles, host Brendan Patrick Hughes explores themes of faith, rebellion, and the complexities of confronting injustice, ultimately offering a compelling blueprint for modern activism.— Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
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Focus Features has set a Sept 11 release for the Paul Greengrass directed, Andrew Garfield starring The Uprising, which follows the untold true story of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Amid the unrest, the mine shut down.— Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
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The announcement comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the government’s handling of political detainees, even after the passage of an amnesty law earlier this year intended to address cases tied to political unrest spanning more than two decades.— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor.— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
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But Bateman's treachery also had a distinctly silly side.— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/subversion. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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