subversive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Nimbly, it manages to be both a pacifist film and a subversive one with no faith in the system as it stands.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Charli's new songs find her grappling with whether she can stay true to her pugnacious, subversive roots while enjoying commercial success and personal happiness.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Even though they never worked together, Highsmith, like Hitchcock, was captivated by the subversive and the clandestine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
It puts you in your place and, whether you realize it or not, it’s a subversive way of controlling the outcome and discouraging you from using your voice.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 6, 2026
My loyalty to Mr. Smeath is similar to my loyalty to my brother both are on the side of ox eyeballs, toe jam under the microscope, the outrageous, the subversive.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
These Super Glue subversives have been derided as publicity-seeking Philistines and hailed as martyrs for a vital cause.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 27, 2022
As Louis frames it, family is the template for, and the creature of, the state, with its brutal leadership, its sycophantic enablers, its goons and its subversives.
From New York Times ● May 23, 2022
A mission to find subversives within San Francisco’s Chinese community has far-reaching consequences for an FBI agent.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 17, 2020
Americans worked themselves into a tizzy over the putative threat posed by small numbers of homegrown subversives.
From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2018
"McCarthyism" became a catchphrase for the hunt for communist subversives, a frenzy that would engulf the United States for the rest of the 1950s.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Vocabulary lists containing subversive
Unit 1: Telling Details
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Animal Farm
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Persepolis
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
