English Reference

Word

perverted

Phoneticsper·vert·ed

US/pɝˈvɝtɪd/

UK/pəvˈɜːtɪd/

Definition

adj. describing behavior that most people think is strange, wrong, or unnatural, especially regarding sex.

adj. deviating from what is considered normal or proper, particularly in a sexual context. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem'.

Examples

“He has a perverted sense of humor.”

“The detective discovered a perverted collection of images hidden in the suspect's basement.”

“The film was criticized for its perverted depiction of historical events, which many felt crossed the line from artistic license into gratuitous cruelty.”

Examples

simple

“He has a perverted sense of humor.”

contextual

“The detective discovered a perverted collection of images hidden in the suspect's basement.”

complex

“The film was criticized for its perverted depiction of historical events, which many felt crossed the line from artistic license into gratuitous cruelty.”

Usage

Often used as a participial adjective to describe people, thoughts, or actions; can also follow linking verbs.

Etymology

From pervert + -ed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/perverted

English Reference