First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1pervert
verb per·vert \pər-ˈvərt\
: to change (something good) so that it is no longer what it was or should be
: to cause (a person or a person's mind) to become immoral or not normal
Full Definition of PERVERT
transitive verb
1
2
a : to divert to a wrong end or purpose : misuse b : to twist the meaning or sense of : misinterpret
— per·vert·er noun
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Origin of PERVERT
Related to PERVERT
Synonym Discussion of PERVERT
debase, vitiate, deprave, corrupt, debauch, pervert mean to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character. debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity <commercialism has debased the holiday>. vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect <a foreign policy vitiated by partisanship>. deprave implies moral deterioration by evil thoughts or influences <the claim that society is depraved by pornography>. corrupt implies loss of soundness, purity, or integrity <the belief that bureaucratese corrupts the language>. debauch implies a debasing through sensual indulgence <the long stay on a tropical isle had debauched the ship's crew>. pervert implies a twisting or distorting from what is natural or normal <perverted the original goals of the institute>.
Rhymes with PERVERT
advert, alert, assert, avert, bellwort, birthwort, Blackshirt, brownshirt, bush shirt, camp shirt, colewort, concert, convert, covert, desert, dessert, dissert, divert, dress shirt, evert, exert, expert, exsert, figwort, fleawort, glasswort, hair shirt, Hastert, hornwort, inert, insert, invert, lousewort, lungwort, madwort, milkwort, mugwort, nightshirt, outskirt, overt, pay dirt, pilewort, ragwort, redshirt, revert, ribwort, saltwort, sandwort, Schubert, seagirt, sea squirt, soapwort, spearwort, spleenwort, stitchwort, stonewort, stuffed shirt, subvert, sweatshirt, toothwort, T-shirt, ungirt
2pervert
noun per·vert \ˈpər-ˌvərt\
: a person whose sexual behavior is considered not normal or acceptable
Full Definition of PERVERT
: one that has been perverted; specifically : one given to some form of sexual perversion
See pervert defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PERVERT
circa 1661
Related to PERVERT
- Synonyms
- backslider, debauchee, debaucher, decadent, deviate, libertine, perv, degenerate, profligate, rake, rakehell, rip
Other Psychology Terms
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