averse
Americanadjective
adjective
-
opposed, disinclined, or loath
-
(of leaves, flowers, etc) turned away from the main stem Compare adverse
Usage
What's the difference between averse and adverse? Averse means strongly opposed to or having a feeling of strong dislike toward something, as in I’m extremely averse to taking on debt. Adverse most commonly means unfavorable or hostile, as in adverse conditions, adverse weather, or adverse criticism.Averse is often used in negative constructions, as in We are not averse to negotiations. It’s also used in the term risk-averse, meaning reluctant to take risks or tending to avoid risk.Confusion can arise between the two terms because both are adjectives that involve unfavorableness or opposition. However, averse typically describes the way someone feels toward something, while adverse typically describes circumstances.One way to remember which word is which is to remember that adverse, in a very general sense, means bad, which rhymes with the first part of the word. On the other hand, when you’re averse to something, you have a very strong opposition to it.It may also be helpful to remember that the noun form of averse is aversion, meaning a strong feeling of dislike or opposition. The noun form of adverse is adversity, which means hostile or unfavorable conditions.Here’s an example of adverse and averse used correctly in a sentence.Example: I’m not averse to taking risks for the sake of adventure, but I just don’t think it’s safe to skydive in such adverse weather.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between averse and adverse.
Commonly Confused
See adverse.
Related Words
See reluctant.
Other Word Forms
- aversely adverb
- averseness noun
Etymology
Origin of averse
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin āversus “turned away, averted” (past participle of āvertere ), equivalent to ā-, prefix and preposition + vert- “turn” + -tus past participle suffix; a- 4
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At least in the technology sector—which the Berkshire founder has been famously averse to backing—there do appear to be stocks that have been unduly punished by AI and energy worries.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
Choi isn’t averse to shtick, if the result is an explosion of audience laughter.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
This suggests that investors are becoming more risk averse, requiring additional compensation to bear volatility risk in equity markets.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026
As experienced surgeons leave, he says, the more junior ones lose their mentors and become increasingly "risk averse", only choosing to use the healthiest donated organs offered to them.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
Georgie was not averse to inoculation, until he had an adverse reaction to the vaccine. affect/effect.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
