adversely

adverb

ad·​verse·​ly ad-ˈvərs-lē 

ˈad-ˌvərs-

: in an adverse manner : in a way that is bad or harmful

Determining which drugs—if any—may have interacted adversely with others is difficult.

—Nancy Ann Jeffrey and Robert Langreth

—often used with affect

Reductions in staffing are affecting the company adversely.

Taking a loan from your retirement account may adversely affect your retirement savings, but there are instances when taking such a loan makes sense.

—Denise Appleby

Examples of adversely in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sandy was not neutral, but downright unpleasant and adversely affected my medical visit. —Risa Jampel, STAT, 22 May 2026

Evidence suggests that iron deficiency, even in early pregnancy, may adversely affect fetal neurodevelopment—potentially leading to cognitive and psychological disorders. —Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 12 May 2026

Alarm clock health benefits Research has proven that using devices at night can adversely affect sleep quality. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 8 May 2026

In a letter to lawmakers, the airlines warned that without the relief, travel costs will continue to rise, which will adversely affect consumers at the ticket counter. —Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for adversely

• diversely
• inversely
• perversely
• reversely
• transversely
• tersely