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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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 teenager has been charged with sabotage, a crime punishable with a minimum seven-year sentence and has been denied a habeas corpus petition.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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With their successful sabotage, there would likely be more security in the future, meaning a future attempt would be far more difficult.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
24 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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Under existing law, lawmakers can lose their pensions if convicted of a federal crime that relates to public corruption, espionage, treason or several other national security offenses.—
Anna Liss-Roy The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
27 Apr. 2026
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He is later suspected of treason when a petition alleges that he had been declared the rightful king by his armorer.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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What was expected to be a quick vote turned into an hourslong saga as some House Republicans launched a rebellion over an issue with an unrelated farm bill.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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The leader of the rebellion chatted with young kids carrying Princess Leia dolls and wearing Boba Fett masks.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That is, up until the 1911 census, after which unrest put the practice on pause.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 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.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subversion. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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