rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryaverseOpposed or unwilling
adjective

averse

uh-VURS/əˈvɜːrs/

Strongly opposed to something or unwilling to do it.

She is averse to climbing and firmly refuses the offered harness.

An adult Black woman firmly refuses an offered climbing harness with an open palm and a decisive backward step while an instructor waits patiently.
Etymology
aLatinaway from
+verseLatinto turn

The pieces express being “turned away.” In this adjective, the turning is mental or emotional: someone averse to an activity turns away from it in feeling and is unwilling to engage in it.

In context

Andrew Huberman146:23
I still have the occasional Diet Coke, I'm not completely averse to drink something that has artificial sweetener.
The Science of Eating for Health, Fat Loss & Lean Muscle | Dr. Layne Norton

More examples

  • She was not averse to a change of plan.
  • The committee seemed averse to public criticism.
  • They remained averse to borrowing money.

Forms

averse · more averse · most averse

aversion noun — strong dislike or opposition

Similar words

reluctant
Reluctant means hesitant or unwilling; averse suggests stronger opposition or dislike.
opposed
Opposed means against something; averse often describes a personal disinclination.