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perverso

perverse

adjective per-VER-soh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Personality

Origin: From Latin perversus, past participle of pervertere (to overturn, corrupt).

Also means

wicked

Usage Note

Perverso describes something morally corrupt, twisted, or producing the opposite of the intended result (effetto perverso = perverse effect, unintended harmful consequence). It is stronger than strano (strange) and carries a moral charge. The noun form is perversione (perversion). False friend warning: English 'perverse' can mean simply 'contrary', but Italian perverso leans more toward moral depravity.

Examples

"Quella politica ha avuto effetti perversi sull'economia."

Natural Translation

That policy had perverse effects on the economy.

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