subversion

UK/səb'vɜːʃən/US/sәb'vә:ʃәn/

Definitions

The act of undermining or attempting to overthrow an established authority, system, or order from within.

颠覆；（从内部）破坏、推翻

Root Breakdown

Native English

sub-under, below

versturn

-ionact, process, state

=subversion

sub- (under) + vers (turn) = 'turning from underneath.' Picture undermining a wall by digging beneath it until it topples — subversion overturns authority from below or within, not by open attack.

Root vers still carries 91 more words

Common Collocations

1.charged with subversion被控颠覆罪
2.political subversion政治颠覆
3.acts of subversion颠覆行为

Example Sentences

1.
The activists were arrested and charged with subversion.
2.
Satire can be a quiet form of political subversion.
3.
The novel is praised for its subversion of fairy-tale clichés.

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