subversion

/səbˈvɜrʒən/
noun
  1. The act of trying to destroy or weaken a government, system, or established authority, often by secret or indirect methods.
    • The spy was charged with subversion for leaking classified information.
    • The government accused the group of subversion for spreading anti-government pamphlets.
    • Historians studied the role of subversion in the fall of the old regime.
  2. The act of undermining or challenging something that is widely accepted, such as a tradition, belief, or social norm.
    • Her novel is a clever subversion of the typical fairy tale ending.
    • The comedian's routine relied on the subversion of audience expectations.
    • The artist's work is a playful subversion of traditional gender roles.
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