Meaning of subvert in English
Verb
subvertEtymology
late Middle English: from Old French subvertir or Latin subvertere, from sub-‘from below’ + vertere‘to turn’Definitions
1. cause the downfall ofExamples
- « of rulers »
- « The Czar was overthrown »
- « subvert the ruling class »
- 2. corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
Examples
- « debauch the young people with wine and women »
- « Socrates was accused of corrupting young men »
- « Do school counselors subvert young children? »
- « corrupt the morals »
- 3. destroy property or hinder normal operations
Examples
- « The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war »
- 4. destroy completely
Examples
- « we must not let our civil liberties be subverted by the current crisis »