averse

American  

[uh-vurs] / əˈvɜrs /

adjective

1. having a strong feeling of opposition, antipathy, repugnance, etc.; opposed (often used in combination): Young Americans are more debt-averse than older generations.

   He is not averse to having a drink now and then.

   Young Americans are more debt-averse than older generations.

   Synonyms:

   loath, unwilling

   Antonyms:

   eager, inclined

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averse British  

/ əˈvɜːs /

adjective

1. opposed, disinclined, or loath

2. (of leaves, flowers, etc) turned away from the main stem Compare adverse

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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; see a- ⁴

Explanation

To be averse to something is to be opposed to it on moral, philosophical or aesthetic grounds: my father is averse to people wearing shoes in the house, but he would not be averse to people wearing house slippers. Averse comes from a Latin word, aversus, which means "turned away from." To be averse to something is to shun it, turn away from it, or dislike it. Some people are averse to the use of cilantro in any food that comes near them, some others are averse to wearing itchy wool sweaters, and others are averse to any form of exercise. Aversions are really very personal.

Example Sentences

Averse to writing about herself, she famously completed Illness as Metaphor without a single mention of her own battle with cancer.

From Slate • Oct. 2, 2019

Averse to punditry, he was not a marquee name on the Sunday talk-show circuit but commanded door-opening respect in political circles.

From Washington Post • Sep. 20, 2019

Averse to extemporaneous talk, she often apologized, more to herself than to me, it seemed, for going “off track.”

From The New Yorker • Oct. 1, 2018

Averse to retouching reality, Caravaggio "was the first to show dead flowers in his painting," she went on.

From New York Times • Nov. 6, 2012

Averse implies reluc- tance or unwillingness, and usually characterizes a per- son.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Related Words

• allergic
• antagonistic
• hesitant
• hostile
• loath
• reluctant
• unwilling