NSW Opportunity Class

Learn “Subversive”

A free exam-vocabulary guide with a precise meaning, natural context and a memory connection that makes the word easier to retrieve.

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NSW Opportunity Class

Subversive

adjective/sub-VUR-siv/

Meaning

Subversive means secretly trying to weaken or overturn power, rules or ideas.

In context

His subversive humour hid a sharp attack on the way things were run.

Remember it

Sub means 'under' and vers means 'turn' — turning something over from underneath.

Use it well

Use subversive for quietly undermining authority or accepted ideas, often in analysis of texts.