perverse
per·verse
adj \(ˌ)pər-ˈvərs, ˈpər-ˌ\Definition of PERVERSE
1
2
a : obstinate in opposing what is right, reasonable, or accepted : wrongheaded b : arising from or indicative of stubbornness or obstinacy
3
: marked by peevishness or petulance : cranky
4
: marked by perversion
— per·verse·ly adverb
— per·verse·ness noun
— per·ver·si·ty \pər-ˈvər-sə-tē, -stē\ noun
See Examples of PERVERSE
- their perverse cruelty to animals
- She has a perverse fascination with death.
- He seems to take perverse pleasure in making things as difficult as possible.
- His friends all enjoy his perverse sense of humor.
- Is this some kind of perverse joke?
Origin of PERVERSE
Middle English, from Anglo-French purvers, pervers, from Latin perversus, from past participle of pervertere
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to PERVERSE
Related Words: bearish, bilious, cantankerous, cross-grained, curmudgeonly, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, off-color (or off-colored), ornery, querulous, snarly, surly; argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, disputatious, fractious, fretful, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent; huffy, pouty, sensitive, short, sulky, sullen, tetchy, thin-skinned, touchy; hot-blooded, passionate
Near Antonyms: affable, companionable, cordial, extroverted (also extraverted), friendly, genial, gregarious, outgoing, sociable; agreeable, amiable, good-natured, good-tempered, sweet, well-disposed; carefree, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, relaxed; forbearing, long-suffering, obliging, patient, stoic (or stoical), tolerant, uncomplaining, understanding
See Synonym Discussion at contrary
Rhymes with PERVERSE
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