Meaning & use

perversely

adverb·Advanced

Last updated

In a way that is contrary to what is expected, reasonable, or right, often deliberately so.

See it in a sentence

Perversely, the harder she tried to fall asleep, the more awake she became.

He perversely enjoyed arguing the opposite of whatever position was popular in the room.

A note on using this word

"Perversely" often signals an ironic or self-defeating twist, describing behavior that works against one's own interests or common sense.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

reasonably

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