subversive
sub·ver·sive/səbˈvɝsɪv/adjective, noun
subversive is spelled S-U-B-V-E-R-S-I-V-E: 10 letters and 3 syllables (sub·ver·sive). It appears 1.6 times per million words in written English, the 22,073rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, subversive means “Intending to subvert, overturn, undermine or debase” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in subversive?
| Letters | 10: S-U-B-V-E-R-S-I-V-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: sub·ver·sive |
| In writing | 1.6 times per million words; the 22,073rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is subversive?
Subversive appears 1.6 times per million words in written English, the 22,073rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce subversive?
- US /səbˈvɝsɪv/
- US /sʌb-/
- US /-vɚsɪv/
Subversive has 3 syllables, split sub·ver·sive in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-subversive.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with subversive?
One word on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as subversive from its last stressed vowel (/ɜɹsɪv/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of subversive
- more subversive comparative
- most subversive superlative
- subversives plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does subversive mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Intending to subvert, overturn, undermine or debase.
subversive influence
noun
- 1
A radical supporter of political or social revolution.
- 2
One who subverts, a saboteur, provocateur, or propagandist.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Subversive in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense intending to subvert:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | subversif |
| German | subversiv |
| Portuguese | subversivo |
| Spanish | subversivo |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does subversive come from?
See subvert and -ive.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).