səbˈvər]t, -və̄], -vəi] sometimes ˌsəbˈv- or chiefly in rapid speech _səˈv-; usu ]d.+V verb
Etymology: Middle English subverten, from Middle French subvertir, from Old French, from Latin subvertere to turn upside down, overturn, overthrow, from sub- down, under + vertere to turn — more at worth
transitive verb
1. : to overturn or overthrow from or as if from a foundation : ruin utterly : raze , demolish
who … labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness — George Washington
2. : to pervert or corrupt (a person) by an undermining of morals, allegiance, or faith : alienate
propaganda that subverts foreign-born citizens
3.
a. : to bring to nothing, destroy, or greatly impair the existence, sovereignty, influence, wholeness of especially by insidious undermining
tear down our free institutions and subvert our form of government into a tyranny — New Republic
b. : to make invalid or futile : confute , defeat
amorous sweet things, enough to make one fancy the adage subverted that stolen fruits are sweetest — George Meredith
intransitive verb
: to overthrow something completely : destroy , overturn
Synonyms: see overturn