adj · noun · verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American:/pɚˈvɝs/
Received-Pronunciation:/pəˈvɜːs/
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)s
UK:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P ER0 V ER1 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Turned aside while against something, splitting off from a thing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Morally wrong or evil; wicked; perverted.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Wayward; vexing; contrary.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Ignoring the evidence or the judge's opinions.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A chiral opposite of something; a mirror image with opposite handedness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
Topics: geometry, mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To pervert.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, nonstandard
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
adjective satellite
Meaning 8
deviating from what is considered moral or right or proper or good
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
depraved criminals
a perverted sense of loyalty
the reprobate conduct of a gambling aristocrat
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: depraved, perverted, reprobate
Antonyms: none provided
9
adjective satellite
Meaning 9
resistant to guidance or discipline
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Mary Mary quite contrary
an obstinate child with a violent temper
a perverse mood
wayward behavior
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: contrary, obstinate, wayward
Antonyms: none provided
10
adjective satellite
Meaning 10
marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
took perverse satisfaction in foiling her plans
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English perverse, pervers, from Old French pervers, from Latin perversum (“thoroughly turned”), past participle of pervertere, from per- (“thoroughly”) + vertere (“to turn”).
Across languages
Translations
43 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
извратен
(izvraten)
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Bulgarian:
перверзен
(perverzen)
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Crimean Tatar:
akis
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Czech:
perverzní
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Danish:
pervers
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Esperanto:
perversa
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Finnish:
perverssi
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Finnish:
kieroutunut
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
French:
pervers
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
German:
pervers
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Haitian Creole:
pèvès
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Hungarian:
perverz
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Japanese:
天邪鬼
(amanojaku)
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Japanese:
意地悪
(ijiwaru)
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Macedonian:
изо́пачен
(izópačen)
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Macedonian:
на́стран
(nástran)
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Macedonian:
пе́рверзен
(pérverzen)
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Old English:
afulīċ
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Old English:
ġedwolen
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Persian:
بلاده
(balâde)
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Romanian:
pervers
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Russian:
извращённый
(izvraščónnyj)
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Serbo-Croatian:
perverzan
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Spanish:
perverso
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Turkish:
sapık
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Ottoman Turkish:
آزغین
(azgın)
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Ottoman Turkish:
اكری
(eğri)
— Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted
Bulgarian:
опърничав
(opǎrničav)
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Bulgarian:
вироглав
(viroglav)
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Finnish:
uppiniskainen
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Finnish:
jääräpäinen
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
German:
pervers
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
German:
abartig
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
German:
widernatürlich
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Japanese:
旋毛曲がり
(tsumujimagari)
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Macedonian:
твр́доглав
(tvŕdoglav)
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Macedonian:
проти́вречен
(protívrečen)
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Māori:
korokē
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Māori:
hōkeke
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Māori:
kōrori
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Russian:
противоречащий
(protivorečaščij)
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Spanish:
protervo
— Obstinately in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary
Irish:
ainbhreitheach
— Ignoring the evidence or the judge's opinions
