subversion

sub·ver·sion
S1U1B3V4E1R1S1I1O1N1
UK/sʌbˈvɜː.ʃən/US/sʌ̈bˈvɝ.ʒən/UK/ˈsʌbˌvɜː.ʒən/US/ˈsʌbˌvɝ.ʒən/

noun

The act of subverting; overturning; flipping from beneath.

Similar
corruptionsubversive activity
OriginMiddle English subversion ← Old French subversion →
Less commonScrabble 15
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Meanings

subversion1

nounsubversion (countable and uncountable, plural subversions)

plural subversions

  1. countableobsoleteuncountableThe act of subverting; overturning; flipping from beneath.
  2. countableuncountableThe act of overthrowing a government or a ruler; dethronement.
  3. countableuncountableThe condition of being subverted.
  4. countableuncountableA systematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within; undermining.

subversion2

nounsubversion (plural subversions)

plural subversions

  1. A revision considered more similar to preceding subversions than a revision deemed a new "version" is to preceding versions.

Synonyms & antonyms

noundestroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity

Similar
corruption
Broader
degradationdebasement

nounthe act of subverting; as overthrowing or destroying a legally constituted government

Similar
subversive activity
Broader
overthrow
Also see
corruption

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

subversion · noun

  1. Old Frenchsubversion
  2. Middle Englishsubversion
  3. Englishsubversion

Inherited from Middle English subversion, subversioun, from Old French subversion.

More words from Middle English, Old French

Full word history & related roots →

subversion · noun

  1. Proto-Indo-European*upó
  2. Proto-Italic*supo
  3. Latinsub
  4. Latinsub-
  5. Englishsub-
  6. Englishversion
  7. Englishsubversion

From sub- + version.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian преврат, подривна дейност
  • преврат (prevrat)the act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • подривна дейност (podrivna dejnost)systematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
Chinese Mandarin 傾覆 /倾覆
  • 傾覆 /倾覆 (qīngfù)the act of overturning; flipping from beneath
Dutch omverwerping
  • omverwerpingsystematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
Finnish kaatuminen, kumous
  • kaatuminenthe act of overturning; flipping from beneath
  • kumousthe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • mullistusthe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • kumouksellisuussystematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
  • valtionvastainen toimintasystematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
French chavirage, subversion
  • chaviragethe act of overturning; flipping from beneath
  • subversionthe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • renversementthe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • subversionsystematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
  • renversementsystematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
German Kentern, Subversion
  • Kenternthe act of overturning; flipping from beneath
  • Subversionthe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • Subversionsystematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
Greek υπονόμευση, ανατροπή
  • υπονόμευση (yponómefsi)the act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • ανατροπή (anatropí)the act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • υπονόμευση (yponómefsi)systematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
Indonesian subversi
  • subversithe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
Irish suaitheadh, suaitheadh
  • suaitheadhthe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • suaitheadhsystematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
Japanese 転覆, 倒す
  • 転覆 (tenpuku)the act of overturning; flipping from beneath
  • 倒す (taosu)the act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • 転覆 (tenpuku)the act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • 転覆 (tenpuku)systematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
  • 破壊 (hakai)systematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
  • 倒す (taosu)systematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
Korean 전복
  • 전복 (jeonbok)the act of overturning; flipping from beneath
Persian براندازی, براندازی
  • براندازی (barândâzi)the act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • براندازی (barândâzi)systematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
Portuguese subversão, subversão
  • subversãothe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • subversãosystematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
Russian опроки́дывание, низверже́ние
  • опроки́дывание (oprokídyvanije)the act of overturning; flipping from beneath
  • низверже́ние (nizveržénije)the act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • сверже́ние (sveržénije)the act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • низложе́ние (nizložénije)the act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • подры́в (podrýv)systematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
  • подрывна́я де́ятельность (podryvnája déjatelʹnostʹ)systematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
  • антиправительственная де́ятельность (antipravitelʹstvennaja déjatelʹnostʹ)systematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
Spanish subversión, desestabilización
  • subversiónthe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • desestabilizaciónsystematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
Swedish kapsejsning, subversion
  • kapsejsningthe act of overturning; flipping from beneath
  • subversionthe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • subversionsystematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within
Turkish bozulma, yıkılma
  • bozulmathe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • yıkılmathe act of overthrowing a government, a ruler or a monarch
  • hükümeti devirmesystematic attempt to overthrow a government by working from within

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with subversion

versionconversionPersianassertiondispersiondiversionexcursionimmersioninversionrecursionreversionperversionincursiondesertionintroversionambiversioncircumversioncompersioncompursionretroversionventroversion
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

subversion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subversion

MLA

“subversion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subversion. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subversion,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subversion.

Source: subversion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.