pervert — English Dictionary

Noun

1. One who has been perverted; one who has turned to error, or adopted a twisted sense of values or morals.

   Usage

   • Dated

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   And yet it is not only tolerated, but perverts are making to it in England and this country, — perverts among the intelligent and the learned. For these things, which I have quoted, are not accusations made in a corner, but have been published in the face of the world by one of the profoundest theologians of the day, and challenge confutation.

   […] a religious pervert is ever a doubtful product. One separated from the fellows of his youth and the faith of his fathers, by acceptance of a different religion, is of necessity more or less adrift on the sea of life […]

   According to the Holy Qur'an, those who cast off God's signs and follow Satan and their caprice are perverts; they are likened to dogs […]

2. A person whose sexual habits are not considered acceptable.

   Antonyms

   normophile

   Examples

   Those perverts were trying to spy on us while we changed clothes!

   I know more damn perverts, at schools and all, than anybody you ever met, and they're always being perverty when I'm around.

Verb

1. To turn another way; to divert.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   divertsteerveer

   Examples

   Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath.

2. To corrupt; to cause to be untrue; corrupted or otherwise impure

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   corruptlead astrayseduce

   Examples

   How could stopping someone from killing himself or herself "pervert the course of justice"?

   He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve.

   More examples (2)

   He was a good Proteſtant, but when he fell into the Jeſuits hands, they ſoon perverted him, and made him embrace the Roman Catholick Religion […]

   A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "We can confirm that a 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Jodi Jones. A 45-year-old has also been arrested in connection with allegations of attempting to pervert the course of justice. A report on this has been sent to the procurator fiscal."

3. To misapply, misuse, use for a nefarious purpose

   Synonyms

   misapplymisuse

   Examples

   He has perverted his talents to dishonest gain.

4. to misinterpret designedly.

   Synonyms

   biasdistortskewtwist

   Examples

   pervert one's words

5. To become perverted; to take the wrong course.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   After that worde, "better is it to dey than lyve false," and al wolde perverted people false reporte make

Noun

1. a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behavior

   Synonyms

   deviantdeviatedegeneratepervperve

   Broader terms

   reprobatemiscreant

Verb

1. corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality

   Synonyms

   corruptsubvertdemoralizedemoralisedebauchdebaseprofanevitiatedepravemisdirect

   Broader terms

   changealtermodify

   Examples

   debauch the young people with wine and women

   Socrates was accused of corrupting young men

   More examples (2)

   Do school counselors subvert young children?

   corrupt the morals

2. practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive

   Synonyms

   twisttwist aroundconvolutesophisticate

   Broader terms

   denoterefer

   Examples

   Don't twist my words

3. change the inherent purpose or function of something

   Synonyms

   misuseabuse

   Broader terms

   consumeeat upuse upeatdepleteexhaustrun throughwipe outuseexpend

   Examples

   Don't abuse the system

   The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers