adverse

[ ad-vurs, ad-vurs ]

adjective

1. unfavorable or antagonistic in purpose or effect:

   adverse criticism.

   Synonyms: unfriendly, inimical, hostile

   Antonyms: favorable

2. opposing one's interests or desire:

   adverse circumstances.

   Synonyms: catastrophic, calamitous, disastrous, unfortunate, unlucky, unfavorable

   Antonyms: favorable

3. being or acting in a contrary direction; opposed or opposing:

   adverse winds.

   Antonyms: favorable

4. opposite; confronting:

   the adverse page.

adverse

/ ˈædvɜːs; ædˈvɜːs /

adjective

1. antagonistic or inimical; hostile

   adverse criticism

2. unfavourable to one's interests

   adverse circumstances

3. contrary or opposite in direction or position

   adverse winds

4. (of leaves, flowers, etc) facing the main stem Compare averse

Confusables Note

The adjectives adverse and averse are related both etymologically and semantically, each having “opposition” as a central sense. Adverse is seldom used of people but rather of effects or events, and it usually conveys a sense of hostility or harmfulness: adverse reviews; adverse winds; adverse trends in the economy. Related nouns are adversity and adversary: Adversities breed bitterness. His adversaries countered his every move. Averse is used of persons and means “feeling opposed or disinclined”; it often occurs idiomatically with a preceding negative to convey the opposite meaning “willing or agreeable,” and is not interchangeable with adverse in these contexts: We are not averse to holding another meeting. The related noun is aversion: She has a strong aversion to violence. Averse is usually followed by to, in older use occasionally by from.

Derived Forms

• adˈversely, adverb
• adˈverseness, noun

Other Words From

• ad·verse·ly adverb
• ad·verse·ness noun
• un·ad·verse adjective
• un·ad·verse·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of adverse¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French advers, from Latin adversus “hostile” (past participle of advertere ), equivalent to ad- ad- + vert- “turn” + -tus past participle suffix, with -tt- giving rise to -s-

Word History and Origins

Origin of adverse¹

C14: from Latin adversus opposed to, hostile, from advertere to turn towards, from ad- to, towards + vertere to turn

Synonym Study

See contrary.

Example Sentences

“A lot of the research, as well as the media coverage, focuses on the harms of the use of the substance itself, and not on the adverse effects of the policies that are adopted in response,” Roberts told Salon in a phone interview.

From Salon

At this time, there have been “no confirmed reports of adverse health events” tied to the consumption of the recalled products.

From Salon

The Slovak climbers’ association, SHS James, said adverse weather in Nepal had prevented rescue action.

From BBC

“This work shows that a trade war would easily compound the adverse conditions that are placing financial stress on farmers. Even when a trade war officially ends, the loss of market share can be permanent.”

From Salon

Caltrans’ environmental review shows that a closure will result in “temporary, disproportionately high and adverse air quality and traffic effects on minority or low-income populations” already experiencing higher rates of asthma.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conflicting
• detrimental
• disadvantageous
• inimical
• injurious
• negative
• unfortunate
• unfriendly