Adverse vs averse
Adverse describes something bad or harmful, like adverse reactions or adverse weather. Averse describes a person who strongly dislikes something or does not want to do it, and it is usually followed by to.
aDverse has a D, like damage: adverse things do damage.
adverse adjective
Bad or harmful, working against what someone wants or needs.
- The medication carries a risk of adverse reactions in older patients.
- Adverse weather forced the team to cancel the match.
averse adjective
Strongly disliking something, or not wanting to do it.
- Many voters are averse to any new tax, however small.
- My brother is averse to getting up early on weekends.
Watch out
- Adverse can also mean opposed to someone's interests, which is close to averse. Use adverse when something works against a person, and averse for a person's own dislike.The witness gave testimony adverse to her own brother's interests.
Test yourself
The new drug had no blank effects in the trial.
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adverse. The effects would be harmful, so adverse fits.
She is not blank to hard work.
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averse. It is about her own feelings. Not averse to means she does not mind it, so averse.
Our flight was delayed by blank weather.
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adverse. The weather worked against the flight, so it was adverse.
He is blank to taking risks with his savings.
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averse. He does not want to take risks, so he is averse to them.