perverse
Deliberately going astray
Perverse describes behavior or attitudes that are contrary, stubborn, or willfully wrong-headed—doing the opposite of what's expected or reasonable: He took perverse pleasure in proving everyone wrong.
A perverse outcome defeats the original purpose: The law had the perverse effect of increasing the problem it was meant to solve.
The word suggests deliberate contrariness rather than simple disagreement.
One diverging from norms
- kinkyTightly coiled or unconventional
- fetishisticObsessively attached to objects
- lewdObscenely sexual
- lasciviousOvertly sexual in manner
salacious · libidinous · prurient · licentious · taboo · indecent · aberrant · unnatural
Firmly refusing to yield
- willfulIntentionally unyielding
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
- pigheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
bullheaded · obdurate · intransigent · unyielding · adamant · self-willed · recalcitrant · refractory
Morally corrupt, perverse
- immoralContrary to ethical principles
- degenerateDecline morally or physically
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
sordid · debased · dissolute · decadent · sinful · iniquitous · reprobate · profligate
Not guided by reason
- illogicalContrary to valid reasoning
- wrongheadedStubbornly holding mistaken views
- senselessLacking reason or awareness
- absurdWildly illogical
misguided · inexplicable · self-defeating · counterproductive · capricious · arbitrary · paradoxical · contrary
Chronic majority-opposer
- oppositionalInclined to oppose
- contradictoryLogically opposed to itself
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
- counterFlat service surface
disagreeable · adverse · inimical · discordant · dissenting · nonconforming · uncooperative · unfavorable
deviant
One diverging from norms
- kinkyTightly coiled or unconventional
- fetishisticObsessively attached to objects
- lewdObscenely sexual
lascivious · salacious · libidinous · prurient · licentious · taboo · indecent · aberrant · unnatural · twisted
obstinate
Firmly refusing to yield
- willfulIntentionally unyielding
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
pigheaded · bullheaded · obdurate · intransigent · unyielding · adamant · self-willed · recalcitrant · refractory · wayward
depraved
Morally corrupt, perverse
- immoralContrary to ethical principles
- degenerateDecline morally or physically
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
vile · sordid · debased · dissolute · decadent · sinful · iniquitous · reprobate · profligate · base
unreasonable
Not guided by reason
- illogicalContrary to valid reasoning
- wrongheadedStubbornly holding mistaken views
- senselessLacking reason or awareness
absurd · misguided · inexplicable · self-defeating · counterproductive · capricious · arbitrary · paradoxical · contrary · backwards
contrarian
Chronic majority-opposer
- oppositionalInclined to oppose
- contradictoryLogically opposed to itself
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
counter · disagreeable · adverse · inimical · discordant · dissenting · nonconforming · uncooperative · unfavorable · negative
- misbehaviormisbehave, misbehavior, mischief, misconduct, naughty
- wickedevil, wicked, villainous, malicious, sinister
- disgustdisgust, disgusting, disgusted, revulsion, repulsion
- interferenceinterfering, meddling, intruding, butting in, obstructing
- scary feelingsterrified, frightening, dreadful, creepiness, goosebumps
perversecooperative
Jointly operated enterprise
accommodating · compliant · agreeable · obliging · willing
- perverse incentiveMotivation causing unintended harm
pervert, perverted, perversion, perversity, perversely, perverseness, perversions, perversities