per
verse
Comparative
more perverse
Superlative
most perverse
1
inclined to act stubbornly and to hang on to what is wrong
- Despite all the evidence, he held a perverse belief that the earth was flat.
- The perverse joy she took in creating conflict only made her less popular among her peers.
- His perverse refusal to admit his mistake caused unnecessary tension in the team.
- Despite the facts, he made a perverse choice to ignore everyone’s advice and go against the plan.
- He took a perverse pleasure in contradicting every suggestion, regardless of its merit.
2
contrary to accepted standards or practices
- The ruling was perverse, contradicting decades of legal precedent.
- Their perverse interpretation of the law shocked the legal community.
- It's perverse to reward failure while punishing effort.
- The system operates in a perverse way, discouraging innovation.
- The policy had the perverse effect of increasing inequality.