Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable, especially in sexual behavior: A "pervert" is a person whose actions, particularly in sexual matters, are considered abnormal, unnatural, or morally wrong by societal standards.

2. Verb:

   • To change the inherent purpose or function of something; to misuse: To use something in a way that is not its intended or proper purpose.
   • To corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality: To lead someone away from moral principles, often through excessive indulgence or depraved influence.
   • To practice sophistry; to change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive: To distort the truth or the intended meaning of something, such as words or facts.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The film portrayed the villain as a dangerous pervert.
  • He was labeled a pervert for his obscene collection.

• Verb:

  • He tried to pervert the course of justice by bribing a witness. (To misuse/change the purpose)
  • The cult leader sought to pervert the minds of his followers. (To corrupt morally)
  • Politicians often pervert the facts to suit their narratives. (To distort meaning)

Advanced Usage

• "To pervert oneself": To engage in acts that corrupt one's own morals or character.

  • He feared that constant exposure to vice would cause him to pervert himself.

• "A perversion of justice": A serious corruption or distortion of legal processes.

  • The biased verdict was seen as a perversion of justice.

Variants and Related Words

• Perversion (n): The action or state of perverting; a distorted or corrupted form of something.

  • His actions were a perversion of the teachings he claimed to follow.

• Perversive (adj): Tending to pervert or corrupt.

  • The book was banned for its perversive influence.

• Perversity (n): The quality of being perverse; a deliberate desire to behave in an unreasonable or unacceptable way.

  • She acted out of sheer perversity.

Synonyms

• Noun: Deviant, degenerate, debauchee.
• Verb (to corrupt): Debase, deprave, debauch, subvert.
• Verb (to distort): Twist, distort, misrepresent, garble.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Pervert" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "To pervert the truth": To deliberately distort or misrepresent facts.
  • The advertisement was accused of perverting the truth about the product's benefits.

Noun

1. a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behavior

Verb

1. change the inherent purpose or function of something
   • Don't abuse the system
   • The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers
2. practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive
   • Don't twist my words
3. corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
   • debauch the young people with wine and women
   • Socrates was accused of corrupting young men
   • Do school counselors subvert young children?
   • corrupt the morals