subversion
gb/sʌbvˈɚʒən/ us/sʌbvˈɚʒən/
C1
English
felforgatás, bomlasztás, kiforgatás, szubverzió
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
felforgatás
C1
bomlasztás
C1
Usage pattern:
subversion of [a government/institution/system]
The government accused the organization of subversion and banned its meetings.
A kormány felforgatással vádolta a szervezetet, és betiltotta a gyűléseit.
The new law was presented as a way to prevent the subversion of democratic institutions.
Az új törvényt úgy mutatták be, mint a demokratikus intézmények bomlasztásának megakadályozását szolgáló eszközt.
Officials warned that foreign subversion could damage public trust in the election.
Learner examples
They were arrested for subversion against the state.
Államellenes felforgatás miatt letartóztatták őket.
The article describes the subversion of democracy.
A cikk a demokrácia bomlasztását írja le.
Common mistake:
Do not use it for any ordinary change; it implies undermining or trying to overturn something established.
Meaning
Undermining established authority
Collocations
political subversion
|acts of subversion
|campaign of subversion
|accused of subversion
|subversion of democracy
|subversion of the state
|foreign subversion
|covert subversion
|ideological subversion
|subversion of authority
Synonyms
undermining (more general; may be gradual and not political)
|
sabotage (often more direct, physical, or practical damage)
|
sedition (more legal and specifically anti-government)
Antonyms
support (helping or maintaining the authority or system)
|
reinforcement (making something stronger rather than weaker)
|
defense (protecting a system or institution from attack)
Themes
politics
|government
|society
|security
Definition
secret or indirect actions intended to weaken or destroy a government, organization, or system.
the act or process of trying to weaken, overthrow, or destroy a government, institution, or established system, often secretly or indirectly.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
kiforgatás
C1
szubverzió
C2
Usage pattern:
subversion of [norms/conventions/expectations]
The novel is a sharp subversion of the traditional detective story.
A regény a hagyományos detektívtörténet éles kiforgatása.
Her performance was praised for its playful subversion of gender stereotypes.
Az alakítását a nemi sztereotípiák játékos kiforgatásáért dicsérték.
The advertisement uses humor and subversion to challenge ideas about beauty.
Learner examples
The film is a subversion of the superhero genre.
A film a szuperhősműfaj kiforgatása.
The artist is known for subversion of old traditions.
A művész a régi hagyományok kiforgatásáról ismert.
Common mistake:
In art and culture, subversion can be positive or playful; it does not always mean illegal rebellion.
Meaning
Challenging conventions and expectations
Collocations
subversion of expectations
|subversion of gender roles
|subversion of stereotypes
|subversion of genre conventions
|comic subversion
|playful subversion
|radical subversion
|subversion of tradition
|cultural subversion
|subversion of norms
Synonyms
challenge (broader and less forceful)
|
inversion (emphasizes reversing the usual order or meaning)
|
parody (uses imitation and humor to criticize or challenge)
Antonyms
conformity (following accepted rules or expectations)
|
convention (the established practice that subversion challenges)
|
reinforcement (strengthening existing ideas rather than questioning them)
Themes
arts
|media
|culture
|literature
|criticism
Definition
a creative way of challenging what people normally expect or believe.
the act of using ideas, symbols, genres, or conventions in a way that challenges, reverses, or mocks their accepted meaning.
Grammar
Dictionary form
subversion
IPA
GB/sʌbvˈɚʒən/
US/sʌbvˈɚʒən/
Syllables & stress
sub - ver - sion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ver)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: subversion
- Plural: subversion, subversions
Expressions
apache subversion
1/əpˈæt͡ʃi sʌbvˈɚʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
SVN version-control software
a software tool that helps developers keep and manage different versions of files.
Examples
- The team still stores some legacy code in Apache Subversion.
- Many projects moved from Apache Subversion to Git over the past decade.
- You need the SVN client to check out the repository from Apache Subversion.
Learner examples
- Our old project uses Apache Subversion.
subversion of expectations
1/sʌbvˈɚʒən əv ˌɛkspɛktˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
Deliberately overturning expectations
a moment when a story makes you expect one thing, then deliberately does something different.
Examples
- The twist works because it is a clever subversion of expectations, not just a random shock.
- Some viewers felt the movie relied too heavily on subversion of expectations.
- The ending offers a quiet subversion of audience expectations.
Learner examples
- The story uses subversion of expectations in the final scene.