averse
Americanadjective
adjective
-
opposed, disinclined, or loath
-
(of leaves, flowers, etc) turned away from the main stem Compare adverse
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; a- 4
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Last month, an AI-generated "artist" known as Breaking Rust topped the US country digital song sales chart - a niche countdown, but one that shows audiences aren't averse to consuming computer-generated music.
From BBC
When asked, he said he wouldn't be averse to that but only if this appealed to the new manager and that he thought it unlikely.
From BBC
Mortgage lenders generally are averse to carrying existing loans over to new borrowers or new properties, at least without new appraisals, credit checks and other paperwork.
From Los Angeles Times
Though the outcomes encoded here are colored by midcentury manners, they are surprisingly daring and averse to sedate moralism.
It’s not as if investors are averse to having income if they need it.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
