Averse vs. Adverse

Averse vs. Adverse

The words averse and adverse have similar spellings, but their meanings are very different. If you are not averse to learning how these two words are different, take note of the explanation below!

Averse is an adjective that describes a strong dislike for something or some course of action.

1. Joseph seems averse to doing his math homework.

2. I am not averse to broccoli, but I do like green beans better.

3. The mortgage companies seem more risk-averse now than they did 10 years ago.

4. If our teacher is not averse to the plan, we are going to bring in bubbles for our project.

Adverse is an adjective that describes something that is harmful or that prevents success.

1. Hal had an adverse reaction to the medication.

2. Taking drugs can have an adverse effect on your body's development.

3. The sudden thunderstorm had an adverse effect on the profits from the opening night of the county fair.

4. The adverse conditions during the blizzard made driving any further impossible.

While both of these words are adjectives and describe something that is negative, adverse has a more negative connotation. While averse describes a feeling of dislike, adverse actually refers to something that occurs that is harmful or has an actual negative effect. You would choose which word to use based on the context of your sentence. If you are just describing a negative feeling, averse is your word. If you wish to describe an actual negative effect, adverse would be more appropriate.

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