subversiv

[ˌzupvɛʁˈziːf]

/[ˌzupvɛʁˈziːf]/ adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“subversiv” is uncommon German (frequency #85,906 among 107,600 “S” headwords), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#85,906
frequency rank, German
107,600
“S” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Subversion betreibend

Key facts for subversiv
PropertyValue
Headwordsubversiv
LanguageGerman
Part of speechAdjective
IPA[ˌzupvɛʁˈziːf]
Letters9
Frequency rank#85,906
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “subversiv” sits in German frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). subversiv lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

subversiv is uncommon German at frequency #85,906 among 107,600 “S” headwords, classed as anadjective, transcribed [ˌzupvɛʁˈziːf]. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "Subversion betreibend".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for subversiv, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

This headword's origin isn't recorded in our source data, so any spelling logic here comes from how the word's sounds map to letters, not a documented origin story. The correct German form is subversiv, spelled S-U-B-V-E-R-S-I-V.

Definition

  1. 1
    Subversion betreibend

Synonyms

umstürzlerischuntergräberischunterwanderndzerstörend

Antonyms

konstruktivstaatstragendaffirmativ

This word in other languages

subversive(English)subversivo(Español)subversif(Français)subversivo(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 German corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "subversiv"?
"subversiv" is spelled S-U-B-V-E-R-S-I-V. The IPA pronunciation is [ˌzupvɛʁˈziːf].
What does "subversiv" mean?
As an adjective, "subversiv" means: Subversion betreibend
How do you pronounce "subversiv"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "subversiv" is [ˌzupvɛʁˈziːf]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "subversiv" come from?
"subversiv" is a German word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “subversiv”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct German spelling is S-U-B-V-E-R-S-I-V - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˌzupvɛʁˈziːf] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more German words and confusable pairs in the same reference. German words

Other uncommon German words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list