Averse, Adverse

It is easy to confuse adverse and averse but their meanings are totally different.

Adversemeans unfavorable, contrary or hostile, and can never be applied to humans. You often hear it used in the term ‘adverse weather conditions’, a phrase which is best avoided in favor of ‘bad weather’.

Aversemeans unwilling or disinclined or loath and is always followed by the preposition ‘to’. It applies to a person and is used like this: ‘He was averse to discussing the conference’. Of course, it would be just as easy to say. ‘He didn’t want to discuss the conference’.

Overuse of both averseand adverseis likely to sound pompous. It’s always better to keep it simple.

 

I detected some adverse grammatical conditions present in T. Daoda Carlon’s response, however I am averse to pointing it out.