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Glite Dictionary
perversive

perversive

9.9
Making people do wrong things and lose good values
  • adjective
  • /pərˈvɜːrsɪv/
translation icon : perverso
  • The media's portrayal of violence can have a perversive effect on young minds.

Examples

  • Some social media platforms have been criticized for their perversive influence on public opinion.

  • The novel explores the perversive nature of power and how it can corrupt individuals.

  • The word love has become so perversive in everyday conversation that it hardly retains its roots in blazing passion or deep adoration.

Synonyms

pernicious
vsperversive
  • Formal
23 8.2

Harmful in a slow and hidden way

is about moral corrupting tendency rather than slow or subtle harm
malign
vsperversive
  • Formal
4 7.6

A harmful, evil force that causes people or things to suffer

is specifically about moral corrupting influence rather than general evil or harm
corruptive
vsperversive
1 7.9

Causing people to become dishonest or act immorally

is about moral corrupting tendency specifically rather than other harms
pestiferous
vsperversive
  • Literature
1 9.9

Causing people to act badly and lose good values

is a general tendency to corrupt morally rather than a direct cause
deformative
vsperversive
  • Formal
8.9

Harming a person's character or behaviour

is focused on moral corruption rather than reputation or general harm

Antonyms

beneficial
138 3.4

Making something better or producing a good result

wholesome
71 3.1

Helps your body and mind stay healthy

How Corrupting

perversive
9.9
harmful
161 2.6

Surface Forms

perversive positive

Morphology

perversive = perverse (semi-transparent) = perverse + ive

The relation to 'perverse' is clear, but the sense 'tending to corrupt or pervert' shifts from the usual 'contrary' meaning of 'perverse', so learners may not derive the exact sense.

Etymology

Perversive comes from Latin parts per- meaning 'completely' and vertere meaning 'to turn'. It shares the 'turn' root with reverse ('turn back'), so a perversive influence is one that 'turns away' people from what is good and so has a corrupting or harmful effect.