Subversion

Part of speech: noun (n.)

The act of overturning, or the state of being overturned; entire overthrow; an overthrow from the foundation; utter ruin; destruction; as, the subversion of a government; the subversion of despotic power; the subversion of the constitution. The subversion [by a storm] of woods and timber . . . through my whole estate. Evelyn. Laws have been often abused to the oppression and subversion of that order they were intended to preserve. Rogers.