Adverse vs. averse

What does adverse mean?

Adverse means to either prevent success or progress, be harmful or be unfavourable. It typically refers to things instead of people.

For example:

·      The famine had an adverse effect on the village.

What does averse mean?

Averse refers to having a strong dislike or opposition to something. It can be used to refer to people.

For example:

·      Betty the dog is averse to sharing her treats.

·      She is averse to talking on the phone.

What’s the difference between adverse and averse?

Adverse means to either prevent progress or be harmful, while averse refers to having a strong dislike or opposition to something. Adverse often refers to things instead of people but averse refers to people.

For example:

·      The nationwide dog treat shortage had an adverse effect on the availability of treats in pet stores. Thankfully, Betty’s owner wasn’t averse to cooking so she cooked homemade treats for Betty instead.