perversion
/pə'və:ʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The action of distorting or corrupting something from its original or intended course, meaning, or state: This refers to the process of twisting something to a wrong use or interpretation.
- A sexual practice or interest considered abnormal or deviant from societal norms: This refers to specific behaviors categorized as deviant.
- (Archaic/Rare) A change to an opposite direction or state; a turning aside: This is a more technical or historical usage, such as describing a physical curve or reversal.
Usage and Examples
- Noun (Distortion/Corruption):
- The lawyer argued that the new law was a perversion of the original constitutional intent.
- Spreading such rumors is a perversion of the truth.
- Noun (Sexual Deviance):
- The old text listed various acts it considered sexual perversions.
- In some legal codes, certain perversions were criminalized.
- Noun (Physical Reversal):
- The botanist noted the perversion of the vine's growth pattern.
Advanced Usage
- "A perversion of justice": A common phrase meaning a severe distortion or corruption of legal principles and fairness.
- The blatant bias of the judge was seen as a perversion of justice.
- Conceptual Use: Can be applied abstractly to ideas, systems, or functions.
- The dictator's propaganda was a complete perversion of the nation's history.
Variants and Related Words
- Perverse (adj): Willfully determined to go against what is expected or reasonable; showing a deliberate desire to behave in an unacceptable way.
- He took a perverse delight in annoying his colleagues.
- Perversity (n): The quality or state of being perverse.
- The sheer perversity of his actions baffled everyone.
- Pervert (v): To distort or corrupt the original course, meaning, or state of something.
- He attempted to pervert the course of the investigation.
Synonyms
- Distortion: The action of giving a misleading account or impression.
- Corruption: Dishonest or fraudulent conduct; the process by which something is changed from its original use.
- Deviation: The action of departing from an established course or accepted standard.
- Aberration: A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected.
Antonyms
- Purification: The process of making something spiritually or morally pure.
- Correction: The action or process of correcting something.
- Normality: The condition of being normal; the state of being usual, typical, or expected.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- To pervert the course of justice: A legal phrase meaning to obstruct or interfere with the fair administration of justice.
- Witness tampering is a serious crime intended to pervert the course of justice.
Noun
- the action of perverting something (turning it to a wrong use)
- it was a perversion of justice
- an aberrant sexual practice;
- a curve that reverses the direction of something
- the tendrils of the plant exhibited perversion
- perversion also shows up in kinky telephone cords