Perversity

Perversity refers to a deliberate and persistent display of behavior or attitudes that are contrary to what is expected, reasonable, or considered morally right. It often involves a stubborn inclination to do the wrong thing, defy rules, or intentionally cause trouble, often stemming from a desire to assert independence, challenge authority, or simply to be difficult. This inherent contrariness can manifest in various forms, ranging from minor rebelliousness to more serious acts of maliciousness. It suggests a willful choice to act against established norms, exhibiting a resistance to persuasion or correction and frequently leading to negative consequences.

Perversity meaning with examples

• Despite clear instructions, his perversity led him to intentionally misinterpret the directions, resulting in project delays. It seemed he took a strange satisfaction in going against the grain, almost enjoying the chaos he created with his contrarian actions. This stubborn streak caused conflict between himself and his colleagues.
• Her perversity manifested in a constant need to disagree with everyone, even when their opinions aligned with her own. She found it difficult to support an idea if she had not proposed it herself. It was a very disruptive habit that made casual conversation challenging.
• The novel's protagonist exhibited perversity by choosing self-destruction over happiness, repeatedly sabotaging any chance at a fulfilling life. This made her a tragic character, she seemingly fought against her happiness.
• The child's perversity was evident in his defiance of bedtime, despite being exhausted, choosing to stay awake purely to irritate his parents. The deliberate disobedience was frustrating as the behaviour appeared to be purely for attention.
• His perversity resulted in him voting against his own self-interest, simply to spite the political party he disliked, even though the proposal would have benefited him. His actions caused considerable confusion among party members.