noun
perversity
per-VUR-suh-tee/pərˈvɜːrsəti/
The quality of deliberately going against what is reasonable or right.
Her perversity leads her to reject both the umbrella and the convenient gate.
Etymology
The adjective's image of being turned away from what is right developed into being obstinately contrary. Perversity names this as a person's disposition or recurring pattern of conduct.
In context
It is impossible for me to excuse the perversity that holds you responsible for consequences which neither you nor I could imagine or foresee. She is not to be reasoned with
More examples
- Her perversity makes her argue against proposals she actually supports.
- He takes the longer route out of pure perversity.
- There is a certain perversity in punishing people for telling the truth.
Forms
perversity
perverse adjective — Deliberately contrary to reason or good judgment.
perversely adverb — In a deliberately contrary or unreasonable way.
Similar words
- contrariness
- Emphasizes opposing others, without necessarily violating reason or morality.
- obstinacy
- Emphasizes refusing to change rather than deliberately choosing wrongly.