Adverse
WordNet
adjective
(1) In an opposing direction
"Adverse currents"
"A contrary wind"
(2) Contrary to your interests or welfare
"Adverse circumstances"
"Made a place for themselves under the most untoward conditions"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
C.1374, from avers (French: adverse), from , past participle of , from + . See also .
Adjective
- Unfavorable; antagonistic in purpose or effect; hostile; actively opposing one's interests or wishes; contrary to one's welfare; acting against; working in an opposing direction.
- adverse criticism
- Opposed; contrary; opposing one's interests or desire.
- adverse circumstances.
- Opposite; confronting.
- the adverse page
- the adverse party
- Calpe's adverse height / […] must greet my sight
Usage notes
Adverse is sometimes confused with , though the meanings are somewhat different. Adverse most often refers to things, denoting something that is in opposition to someone's interests — something one might refer to as an or — (adverse winds; an attitude adverse to our ideals). Averse usually refers to people, and implies one has a distaste, disinclination, or toward something (a leader averse to war; an investor averse to risk taking). Averse is most often used with "to" in a construction like "I am averse to…". Adverse shows up less often in this type of construction, describing a person instead of a thing, and should carry a meaning of "actively opposed to" rather that "has an aversion to".