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

Twine said the range is formulated to improve hair that has been adversely impacted by environmental stressors like UV exposure, pollution and heat styling, and biological and hormonal shifts. — Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026

Residents expressed fear the business’s heavy reliance on water would adversely affect their aquifers, noting nearby homes use well and septic systems. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Community organizers in Wyandotte County are putting together teams to clean up Kansas City, Kansas, and help residents who were the most adversely affected by significant storms that tore through the area on Wednesday. — Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026

Excessive protein powder intake may cause digestive problems or adversely affect kidney function in some people. — Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for adversely

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