pervert

/pər-ˈvərt/

Middle English, from Anglo-French purvertir, pervertir, from Latin pervertere to overturn, corrupt, pervert, from per- thoroughly + vertere to turn

verb

  1. to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right : corrupt

  2. to cause to turn aside or away from what is generally done or accepted : misdirect

  3. to divert to a wrong end or purpose : misuse

debase vitiate deprave corrupt debauch pervert mean to cause deterioration or lowering in quality or character. debase implies a loss of position, worth, value, or dignity. vitiate implies a destruction of purity, validity, or effectiveness by allowing entrance of a fault or defect.

noun

  1. one that has been perverted; specifically : one given to some form of sexual perversion

idiom

  1. to try to stop the police from learning the facts about a criminal case

She was convicted of perverting justice for lying to the police.