pervert

Other forms: perverted; perverting; perverts

To pervert something is to corrupt it. For example, you could "pervert the course of justice" by lying on the witness stand.

Another common use of pervert is as a word for a person who is sexually deviant; however, people also use this word more loosely to describe anyone who seems creepy. Perverting also means changing or subverting something. A cop who breaks the law is perverting the law. A criminal who convinces other people to become criminals is perverting them. So when you think of pervert, think change — change for the worse.

Definitions of pervert

1. verb

   corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
   synonyms: corrupt, debase, debauch, demoralise, demoralize, deprave, misdirect, profane, subvert, vitiate

   types:

   carnalise, carnalize, sensualise, sensualize

   debase through carnal gratification

   infect

   corrupt with ideas or an ideology

   lead astray, lead off

   teach immoral behavior to

   poison

   spoil as if by poison

   bastardise, bastardize

   change something so that its value declines; for example, art forms

   suborn

   incite to commit a crime or an evil deed

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
2. verb

   change the inherent purpose or function of something
   synonyms: abuse, misuse

   types:

   fracture

   violate or abuse

   take in vain

   use a name, such as God, without proper respect

   type of:

   expend, use

   use up or consume fully
3. verb

   practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive
   synonyms: convolute, sophisticate, twist, twist around

   type of:

   denote, refer

   have as a meaning