adjective
adverse
ad-VERS/ədˈvɜːrs/
Harmful or unfavorable to a desired outcome.
Strong wind and driving rain create adverse conditions for the cyclist.
Etymology
The roots give the image of something turned toward you, hence facing or opposing you. Applied to circumstances or effects, that opposition means unfavorable or working against success.
In context
areas screened from aerial observation by adverse terrain features such as a jungle canopy are covered by the highly mobile ground reconnaissance team
More examples
- The drug caused an adverse reaction in one patient.
- The report had an adverse effect on sales.
- Despite adverse publicity, the museum remained popular.
Forms
adversely adverb — In a harmful or unfavorable way.
Similar words
- unfavorable
- Suggests a disadvantage without necessarily causing actual harm.
- harmful
- Emphasizes damage rather than opposition to a desired result.