subverter
One who corrupts
A subverter is someone who undermines or overthrows an established system, institution, or set of values.
The word carries connotations of working against authority from within or below rather than through open confrontation: The regime viewed intellectuals as potential subverters of state ideology.
Subverter can be neutral or admiring depending on one's view of what's being subverted.
Seeking fundamental systemic change
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- insurgentOne who revolts
- anarchistOne opposing all governance
- mutineerSailor who revolts
guerrilla · resistance · partisan · radical · activist · insurrectionist · separatist · renegade
Deliberate disruption of operations
- infiltratorOne who enters covertly
- spyCovert information gatherer
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- operativeCovert field agent
underminer · wrecker · collaborator · quisling · traitor · turncoat · informant · conspirator
One who violates rules
- provocateurOne who deliberately incites
- satiristOne who mocks through wit
- parodistOne who mocks originals
- gadflyIrritating, persistent critic
critic · skeptic · questioner · debunker · iconoclast · disruptor · reformer
Make unsteady or insecure
- weakenReduce in strength
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- discreditHarm another's reputation
- delegitimizeDeny rightful authority
demoralize · compromise · corrupt · manipulate · deceive · dismantle · disrupt · derail
revolutionary
Seeking fundamental systemic change
mutineer · guerrilla · resistance · partisan · radical · activist · insurrectionist · separatist · renegade · agitator
sabotage
Deliberate disruption of operations
- infiltratorOne who enters covertly
- spyCovert information gatherer
- moleSubterranean insectivore
operative · underminer · wrecker · collaborator · quisling · traitor · turncoat · informant · conspirator · plotter
transgressor
One who violates rules
- provocateurOne who deliberately incites
- satiristOne who mocks through wit
- parodistOne who mocks originals
gadfly · critic · skeptic · questioner · debunker · iconoclast · disruptor · reformer
destabilize
Make unsteady or insecure
delegitimize · demoralize · compromise · corrupt · manipulate · deceive · dismantle · disrupt · derail · topple
- subverted expectationsAnticipated outcome overturned