Meaning & use
perversely
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
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “perversely”, then compare your use with the examples above.