perverse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "perverse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is contrary to what is expected or accepted, often in a morally or socially unacceptable way. Example: "His perverse sense of humor often left others feeling uncomfortable in social situations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's perverse.

The Guardian

And here's the perverse bit: to be successful, most of the time you won't want to hit the ball at all.

The Guardian - Sport

He asked Congolese soldiers and police to "protect citizens and not to obey perverse orders aimed at killing defenceless men and women".

The Guardian

The British film industry may be occasionally ambivalent about the Guardian, but they probably love us deep down, and not giving the prize to Laura Poitras's Snowden film would be perverse.

The Guardian - Film

Children are kept away from the corpse handlers, who are believed to chew garlic to hide the stench of death and take perverse pleasure in their line of work.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, Murray is the most perverse of athletes.

The Guardian - Sport

The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents the majority of Scotland Yard's 30,000 officers, criticised the IPCC for what it called the police watchdog's "catalogue of inappropriate comments and perverse actions".

The Guardian

The Met's move had been condemned by all Britain's major newspapers, including the Times and Sunday Times, and the Daily Mail's columnist Richard Littlejohn.Isabella Sankey, director of policy for Liberty, said: " "It would have been perverse in the extreme for early prosecutions in the phone-hacking scandal to be against those who blew it open rather than those who covered it up.

The Guardian

"Gangs of this nature must not be allowed to abuse members of this community and deliver their perverse concept of justice," he said.

The Guardian

The nature of theatre means that to aspire to do so is slightly perverse.

The Guardian

Labor, exhausted by the marathon, by the perverse acceleration of time that had aged a still youthful government, fundamentally worn down by the rolling moral panics and the instant referendums of the social media age, was simply trying to move on past the debacles of the Rudd/Gillard civil war, including the debacle of an election campaign that began to make sense only in its closing week.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "perverse", ensure the context clearly indicates the deviation from accepted norms, whether moral, logical, or behavioral. This prevents misinterpretation and strengthens your intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "perverse" when simply describing something unusual or unexpected without a negative connotation. Using a more neutral term like "unconventional" or "atypical" maintains objectivity.

Linguistic Context

The word "perverse" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that deviates from what is considered normal, acceptable, or morally right. Ludwig AI confirms that this word is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Opinion

25%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "perverse" describes something that deviates from the norm in a way that is considered unacceptable, wrong, or disturbing. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it is grammatically correct and usable in a variety of contexts. Although frequently found in news, opinion pieces, and sports writing, use it carefully and consider synonyms like "contrary" or "unreasonable" in less formal settings to avoid misinterpretation. High-quality sources such as The Guardian and The Economist frequently employ it. Ensure its negative connotation is intentional and contextually appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contrary

Focuses on opposition or resistance to the expected or desired outcome, differing from "perverse" which implies a more deliberate deviation.

unreasonable

Emphasizes the lack of logical justification, whereas "perverse" suggests a more intentional or stubborn deviation.

abnormal

Highlights deviation from the norm, differing from "perverse" which often carries a connotation of moral wrongness or stubbornness.

deviant

Specifically indicates a departure from accepted norms, often in a social or moral context, similar to "perverse" but can be stronger in implication.

wayward

Suggests a tendency to turn away from what is right or proper, sharing the sense of deviation with "perverse" but often with a lighter tone.

obdurate

Highlights stubbornness and resistance to persuasion, similar to one aspect of "perverse" but not necessarily implying immorality.

unnatural

Implies a violation of natural order or instincts, which can overlap with the meaning of "perverse" in certain contexts.

warped

Conveys a sense of distortion or corruption, similar to the negative connotations sometimes associated with "perverse".

distorted

Focuses on the alteration of something from its true or natural state, differing from "perverse" which implies intentional deviation.

errant

Suggests straying from the proper course or standards, sharing the sense of deviation with "perverse" but less intense.

FAQs

How can I use "perverse" in a sentence?

You can use "perverse" to describe something that deviates from what is considered normal or acceptable. For example, "The policy had a "perverse incentive" that encouraged the opposite of its intended effect."

What are some synonyms for "perverse"?

Some synonyms for "perverse" include "contrary", "unreasonable", or "deviant", depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "perverse" and "abnormal"?

"Perverse" often implies a moral or intentional deviation, whereas "abnormal" simply indicates a departure from the norm without necessarily carrying a negative connotation. The context determines which is the better fit.

Is it always negative to describe something as "perverse"?

Yes, "perverse" generally has negative connotations, suggesting something is not just different, but also wrong, disturbing, or unacceptable. It's usually associated with something morally wrong or corrupt.