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

The act was intended to assist borrowers during this period and to ensure that their credit scores would not be adversely affected. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026

Trump and his team contend that diversifying the workforce adversely affects the integrity of a project. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026

Given that Trafford’s commitment in training and his performances on the pitch have not been adversely affected, his disappointment is understandable and, surely, forgivable. —Sam Lee, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026

But soil that is too acidic or too alkaline can adversely affect a plant's growth and productivity. —David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for adversely

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