Word
perverse
Phoneticsper·verse, stress on the second syllable
US/pɝˈvɝs/
UK/pəvˈɜːs/
Definitions
01contrary to reason
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. doing something that seems wrong or illogical, often because you are being stubborn.
adj. deliberately departing from what is reasonable, expected, or logical, often in a way that seems self-defeating.
“He took a perverse pleasure in disagreeing with everything his boss said.”
“It seems perverse to cut the budget for the very department that generates the most revenue for the company.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02stubborn
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. refusing to change your mind or behavior even when it is clear you are wrong.
adj. obstinately persisting in an error or a difficult course of action despite advice or evidence.
“The child was being perverse and refused to eat even though he was hungry.”
“The witness remained perverse throughout the cross-examination, refusing to acknowledge facts that were clearly documented in the reports.”
Synonyms
03legal verdict
C2 · Proficiency Law Technical · Formal
adj. describes a legal decision that ignores the facts or the law.
adj. describes a verdict or finding that is so clearly against the weight of the evidence that no reasonable jury could have reached it.
“The lawyer argued that the jury's decision was perverse and should be overturned.”
“The appellate court ruled that the initial verdict was perverse, as it completely disregarded the forensic evidence presented during the trial.”
Synonyms
04morally wrong
C2 · Proficiency Literary · Formal
adj. showing a lack of correct morals; behaving in a way that most people find wrong.
adj. deviating from what is considered right, good, or proper; morally distorted.
“The villain in the story had a perverse desire to see others suffer.”
“The regime's perverse interpretation of justice led to the imprisonment of many innocent citizens.”
Real-World Examples
“Asked whether directors should wade into political debates or not, Gyllenhaal said what made cinema political was its ability to generate empathy, even for “the most corrupt, the most perverse people”.” “Worse still, Neets on benefits are barred from full-time courses, which is perverse.” Etymology
From Middle English perverse, pervers, from Old French pervers, from Latin perversum (“thoroughly turned”), past participle of pervertere, from per- (“thoroughly”) + vertere (“to turn”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/perverse