# perverse

/pɝˈvɝs/ (US) · /pəvˈɜːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/perverse
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 3. ignoring evidence

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

describing a legal decision that is wrong because it ignores the facts or the law.

For teachers: describing a verdict or finding that is against the weight of evidence or contrary to the judge's direction on a point of law.

- The lawyer argued that the jury had reached a perverse verdict despite the evidence.
- The appellate court overturned the ruling, stating that the original decision was perverse as no reasonable person could have reached such a conclusion.

Usage: Usually modifies 'verdict', 'finding', or 'decision'.

## Examples

- He took a perverse pleasure in disagreeing with everyone.
- The decision to cut the budget during a crisis seemed perverse to many experts.
- The jury reached a perverse verdict that ignored the overwhelming physical evidence presented by the prosecution, leading to a widespread public outcry for a judicial review.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.