“Adverse” vs. “Averse”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “adverse” and “averse”

  • Adverse means contrary or unfavorable, while averse describes a feeling of dislike or opposition.
  • Adverse is often used in reference to external circumstances, while averse is more commonly used to describe internal feelings or attitudes.
  • Adverse is typically objective, while averse is subjective.
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What is the definition of “adverse” and “averse”?

Adverse
  • Adverse means contrary or unfavorable.
  • It is often used to describe undesirable circumstances or events.
  • A common phrase incorporating the word is "adverse effects."
Averse
  • Averse means having a strong dislike or opposition to something.
  • It is often used to describe a feeling or attitude towards something.
  • A common phrase incorporating the word is "averse to change."

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Adverse” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Adverse
547,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The adverse weather conditions caused delays in flight schedules.
  2. My doctor told me that the medication could have adverse effects on my health.
  3. The company faced adverse criticism for its unethical business practices.
Averse
32,600,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I am averse to the idea of eating meat as I am a vegetarian.
  2. She is averse to taking risks and prefers to stick to a safe routine.
  3. He was averse to accepting charity and always worked hard to earn a living.
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