Adverse definition

ăd-vûrs, ădvûrs
Unfavorable; harmful.

The adverse effects of a drought.

adjective
12
1
Acting or serving to oppose; antagonistic.

Adverse criticism.

adjective
8
3
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.

adjective
4
1
Moving in an opposite or opposing direction.

Adverse currents.

adjective
2
1
Moving or working in an opposite or contrary direction; opposed.

Adverse river currents.

adjective
2
1
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Opposite in position.
adjective
1
1
(bot.) Turned toward the stem.
adjective
1
1
Opposed; contrary; opposing one's interests or desire.

Adverse circumstances.

adjective
1
1
Contrary to one's interests or welfare; harmful or unfavorable.

Adverse circumstances.

adjective
1
2
The definition of adverse is unfavorable or acting against a person, goal or circumstance.

Hurricanes with strong winds, tornadoes and hail storms are each an example of an adverse weather condition.

adjective
0
1
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(not comparable) Opposite; confronting.

The adverse page.

The adverse party.

Calpe's adverse height / […] must greet my sight.

adjective
0
1

Other Word Forms

Adjective

Base Form:
adverse
Comparative:
adverser
Superlative:
adversest

Origin of adverse

  • Middle English from Old French advers from Latin adversus past participle of advertere to turn toward ad- ad- vertere to turn wer-2 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • First attested around 1374, from Old French avers (French: adverse), from Latin adversus (“turned against”), past participle of advertere, from ad- (“to”) + vertere (“to turn”). See also versus.

    From Wiktionary

Adverse Sentence Examples

  • He listened to no adverse criticism and receded before no obstacle.

  • He remained adverse to any case where he knew for sure that someone was killed.

  • In May, however, an adverse vote of the Chamber on a purely technical matter led to his resignation.

  • The papacy was weakened by its contest with these adverse elements, and it was through its failure to triumph over them that its dream of European dominion, both temporal and spiritual, entered but very incompletely into the field of realities.

  • A few days later the ministry, having received an adverse vote on.

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Words near adverse in the Dictionary