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Perverse Definition – Meaning and Usage In A Sentence

Perverse Definition – Meaning and Usage In A Sentence

So many people have used the word perverse to show that someone does not tick the boxes society expects them to do. Look at it as someone who decides to chart out a path devoid of expected morals. That’s why you hear of a perverse child or perverse behavior; so, what is the proper perverse definition and meaning?

Perverse means “to show a deliberate and obstinate desire or behave a certain way.” The synonym for this word is difficult, contradictory, or unreasonable. In other contexts, it can also be used in sentences to mean “someone sexually perverted.”

Now that you know what the word perverse means, you must understand how to use it in a sentence. That way, you do not end up offending anybody. In this post, we will look at everything that the word perverse stands for so that you can use it in a sentence without seeming or sounding off. Read on to see how this new word can apply to your vocabulary.

perfect sunset to readWhat Is the Definition of Perverse?

Perverse means “to have an obstinate desire to act in a certain way.” Anybody can behave in a way that those around them feel uncomfortable or intimidated. When that happens, use “perverse” to describe the situation.

Here are some example sentences:

  • No matter how much they talk to her, she is stuck in her perverse ways.
  • The boy’s perverse manner of going up and down the escalator has caught the attention of many people at the mall.
  • He sees no fault in his perverse thinking and insists it is how the world works.

What Is the Meaning of Perverse?

Perverse also means having a sexual perversion that most people do not consider normal. Such people can also be called creeps.

Perverse people are often frowned upon by the people around them. They are considered black sheep, and for the better part, their behavior is not something one is encouraged to have. For instance, if an adult is known for a perverse attitude, parents would warn their children to stay away from them. Sex offenders have perverse behavior. That’s why they are often referred to as perverts.

  • His perverse interest in torturing women was considered one of the signs of a disturbed mind.
  • She will not admit she has sexual perverse thoughts for fear of being judged by friends.
  • His sexual perverse habits have made him wanted in town.

There was a time when people argued that perverse people have mental issues. That was, however, proven wrong, and it meant that all perverted people would be treated as criminals if they acted on their thoughts. The courts do not recognize these thoughts as a cry for help since it is believed that many perverse people have no underlying reasons to hold the thoughts and opinions they have.

Perverse vs. Perversion

Perverse is an adjective, and it represents the act of perversion. A perverse action goes against cultural and societal norms. On the other hand, perversion is a noun, and it stands for the action itself. For instance, you would say, “Mary’s perversion led her down a dark path that she decided to go for therapy.”

The words perverse, perversion, perverted, and pervert are used interchangeably. They all stand for the same thing, acting outside societal and moral norms. All you need to know about the different words is how to use them in a sentence as it changes whatever you are talking about.

In fact, perversion, perverted, and pervert are the most common different forms of the word perverse. As you use these words in various sentences, make sure the context fits. Otherwise, people will not understand what you are trying to pass across.

How to Use Perverse in a Sentence

You can use perverse in sentences as an adjective, noun, or adverb. The adjective word is “perverse.” The noun form of perverse is “perverseness” and “perversity.” “Perversely” is the most recognized adverb form. 

Many people tend to confuse perverse, perverts, and perverted when it comes to sentence construction. It is easy for you to confuse the three words since they all stand for more or less the same thing.

The main difference is the spelling and the tense in which the word falls. As you learn more about this word, you get to see what perverse means and how you can use it appropriately in a sentence.

Here are some examples to guide you.

  • She has a perverse way of making you bend to her will.
  • The lack of morals and standards has made most children these days to be considered very perverse in their thinking.
  • They have a perverse way of going about conflict resolution
  • Her perverse desire to see her parents suffer has brought a rift between them.

The examples above go a long way to show you how you should use the word perverse in a sentence. Your sentences must be in context and grammatically correct at all times.

Is Perverse a Negative Trait?

Based on all the earlier examples and the different scenarios used for the word, you’ll realize that “perverse” is a negative word. A perverse person acts in a way that is not normal. They do things without a second thought, which explains why they are shunned.

In a society where many sexual offenders commit violent crimes, it is clear that sexual perversion is not something people take lightly. If one is considered perverse in society, many people will be on the lookout for them.

No one wants to be in the company or presence of a perverse person lest they be labeled an accomplice if things go south. Perverse is a term that is not just negative but also used to show the most undesirable elements in society.

10 Examples of Perverse in a Sentence

“Perverse” is more than just about waywardness. It shows a different desire as well. Based on how it is used in a sentence, one can figure out what the author meant to say. To help you get a clearer picture of the word, here are some scenarios where the word perverse is used in a sentence.

  1. His perverse obsession with death made him see a therapist since it was not a common thing in society.
  2. Amanda’s perverse jokes at the introduction amused her friends, making the party lively.
  3. The teacher told Joel his perverse thinking would get him in trouble if he didn’t change.
  4. She finds perverse pleasure in upsetting her friends, something her friends disliked passionately.
  5. He derived a perverse pleasure in her discomfort, overcoming the sad moments.
  6. The explanation she gave had some perverse undertones, reducing the chance of winning the case.
  7. There needs to be harsher sentencing for perverse people in the court system.
  8. His perverse fascination with pain is preventing him from seeing a doctor.
  9. You are being unnecessarily perverse, and you may regret the rest of your life.
  10. It was oddly perverse, but the youth humorously received the news.

How Do You Spell Perverse? 

The spelling of perverse is p-e-r-v-e-r-s-e.

In simple terms, you achieve this by spelling out the characters in the word. The word has eight characters. The traditional IPA phonetics pronunciation of the word is pəˈvɜːs.

How Do You Pronounce Perverse?

The British pronunciation of perverse is (puh.vuhs). The American pronunciation of the same is (pr.vurs).

Based on your context, you can choose either of the two pronunciations. You will experience no challenges when pronouncing this word, even when you’ve come across it for the first time. It’s because the word has no multiple silent letters that confuse many English speakers. The absence of similar double characters makes it easy to pronounce the word.

Synonyms Of The Word “Perverse”

Antonyms Of The Word “Perverse”

How Many Syllables Are in Perverse?

Perverse has two syllables. 

The syllables are per-verse. If you want to spell or pronounce this word correctly, start by knowing the number of syllables. Always stress -verse during pronunciation.

History and Etymology of Perverse

Perverse was initially used in the 14th Century by the French. It comes from the French word pervers which means “unnatural, degenerate, and contrary. It was also used in Latin as perversus, which means turned away and askew. It means to turn away from the right thing and to be malicious.

Based on the word’s history, you can learn about its etymology. Perverse has not changed its meaning in all those years, and it’s being used to mean the same thing even today. The word joins other unique words that have retained their meaning for centuries.

young woman taking notesWhen Was Perverse First Used? 

Perverse started being used extensively in the 1660s. It was later used when referring to wayward sexual terms around 1896.

Conclusion

We hope this post on perverse definition, meaning, and usage has shed more light on the term and the different contexts you can use it. We hope to see how you will use the word in sentences to ensure your language improves as you pass the right message across. We also hope you get to know the difference between the adjective and noun versions of the word so you do not confuse them.