averse

[uh-vurs]

adjective

1. having a strong feeling of opposition, antipathy, repugnance, etc.; opposed (often used in combination): Young Americans are more debt-averse than older generations.

   He is not averse to having a drink now and then.

   Young Americans are more debt-averse than older generations.

   Synonyms: loath, unwilling
   Antonyms: eager, inclined

averse

/ əˈvɜːs /

adjective

1. opposed, disinclined, or loath

2. (of leaves, flowers, etc) turned away from the main stem Compare adverse

Confusables Note

See adverse.

Other Word Forms

• aversely adverb
• averseness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of averse¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin āversus “turned away, averted” (past participle of āvertere ), equivalent to ā-, prefix and preposition + vert- “turn” + -tus past participle suffix; a- ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of averse¹

C16: from Latin āversus, from āvertere to turn from, from vertere to turn

Synonym Study

See reluctant.

Example Sentences

There were also all the nearby property owners who needed persuading, not to mention a skeptical, conservation-minded community that was averse to saving a human-altered shoreline with more human alterations.

From Los Angeles Times

"And this flaw doesn't just hurt those with LISAs. It puts off many young people, especially from lower income backgrounds, who tend to be more risk averse, from opening LISAs in the first place."

From BBC

Initially, ICE agents seemed averse to confronting religious leaders, and in some cases, left the courthouse when clergy members arrived.

From Los Angeles Times

“I tried to strike a balance between being somewhat risk averse, but not so much that we don’t innovate and do right by our kids and our workforce,” Carvalho said in during Tuesday’s meeting.

From Los Angeles Times

While I firmly believe moviegoing audiences should be less averse to slow pacing, there’s an almost prideful lack of explanation for the context of images flickering across the screen.

From Salon

Related Words

• allergic 
• antagonistic 
• hesitant 
• hostile 
• loath 
• reluctant 
• unwilling 

When To Use

What's the difference between averse and adverse?

Averse means strongly opposed to or having a feeling of strong dislike toward something, as in I’m extremely averse to taking on debt. Adverse most commonly means unfavorable or hostile, as in adverse conditions, adverse weather, or adverse criticism.Averse is often used in negative constructions, as in We are not averse to negotiations. It’s also used in the term risk-averse, meaning reluctant to take risks or tending to avoid risk.Confusion can arise between the two terms because both are adjectives that involve unfavorableness or opposition. However, averse typically describes the way someone feels toward something, while adverse typically describes circumstances.One way to remember which word is which is to remember that adverse, in a very general sense, means bad, which rhymes with the first part of the word. On the other hand, when you’re averse to something, you have a very strong opposition to it.It may also be helpful to remember that the noun form of averse is aversion, meaning a strong feeling of dislike or opposition. The noun form of adverse is adversity, which means hostile or unfavorable conditions.Here’s an example of adverse and averse used correctly in a sentence.Example: I’m not averse to taking risks for the sake of adventure, but I just don’t think it’s safe to skydive in such adverse weather.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between averse and adverse.