sub·ver·sive

[suhb-vur-siv]
adjective
1.
Also, sub·ver·sion·ar·y [suhb-vur-zhuh-ner-ee, -shuh-] . tending to subvert or advocating subversion, especially in an attempt to overthrow or cause the destruction of an established or legally constituted government.
noun
2.
a person who adopts subversive principles or policies.

Origin:
1635–45; < Latin subvers(us) (past participle of subvertere to subvert) + -ive

sub·ver·sive·ly, adverb
sub·ver·siv·ism, sub·ver·sive·ness, noun
coun·ter·sub·ver·sive, noun
non·sub·ver·sive, adjective
non·sub·ver·sive·ly, adverb
non·sub·ver·sive·ness, noun
self-sub·ver·sive, adjective
un·sub·ver·sive, adjective
un·sub·ver·sive·ly, adverb
un·sub·ver·sive·ness, noun


1. traitorous, treacherous, seditious, destructive.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To subversive
00:10
Subversive is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
Collins
World English Dictionary
subversive (səbˈvɜːsɪv) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  liable to subvert or overthrow a government, legally constituted institution, etc
 
n
2.  a person engaged in subversive activities, etc
 
sub'versively
 
adv
 
sub'versiveness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

subversive
1640s, from L. subvers-, pp. stem of subvertere (see subvert) + -ive. As a noun, attested from 1887.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
His images have an odd beauty and, at times, a subversive wit.
The funny thing is that the album actually is alternative to what's been going
  on in pop, but certainly not subversive.
What's really subversive is to try to change the system from within.
But it's a short road from subversive upstart to established presence.
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