1
as in unfavorable
opposed to one's interests
all the adverse publicity really caused the movie star's popularity to suffer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in detrimental
causing or capable of causing harm
the adverse effects of the drug are too severe to allow it to be marketed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of adverse
Then the potential risks and adverse effects are really taxing on your heart, and can increase your risk of developing things like insulin sensitivity and psychiatric instability.
—
Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 12 May 2026
Developers would bear primary responsibility for model performance; deploying institutions would be responsible for workflow integration, supervision protocols, and adverse-event reporting.
—Alon Bergman, STAT, 11 May 2026
Fairlead Strategies or its affiliates may have positions in financial instruments mentioned, may have acquired such positions at prices no longer available, and may have interests different from or adverse to your interests or inconsistent with the advice herein.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 11 May 2026
Environmental officials documented no adverse effects on plant or animal life during the two-week display.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for adverse
Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 12 May 2026
Developers would bear primary responsibility for model performance; deploying institutions would be responsible for workflow integration, supervision protocols, and adverse-event reporting.
—Alon Bergman, STAT, 11 May 2026
Fairlead Strategies or its affiliates may have positions in financial instruments mentioned, may have acquired such positions at prices no longer available, and may have interests different from or adverse to your interests or inconsistent with the advice herein.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 11 May 2026
Environmental officials documented no adverse effects on plant or animal life during the two-week display.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for adverse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adverse
Adjective
-
Assess contract health to reduce your exposure to cost creep and unfavorable terms.—
David Pennino,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
For Healey, 39% of respondents had a favorable view of her as governor, compared to 45% who have an unfavorable view of her.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
However, pruning mistakes can be very detrimental, introducing shock or infection to an otherwise thriving shrub, tree, or flower.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
19 May 2026
-
And then there is the part of the leverage exercise that so many times before has proven detrimental to the Heat — the waiting game.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
However, Chloe later admitted that, despite their best efforts, her parents’ divorce — and the rumors and publicity surrounding it — did have a negative effect on her.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
-
So none of the negative press circling around him manifested as a problem in your working relationship?—
Zak Cheney-Rice,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Prosecutors maintain the search was legal because it was conducted in conjunction with an arrest and officers were following Altoona police protocols that require them to check for dangerous items that could be harmful to them or the public.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
Santos is charged with distributing food with a harmful substance, according to court records obtained by the Telegram & Gazette, part of the USA TODAY Network.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Women, people of color, and first-generation professionals were too often told their accurate perceptions of hostile environments were merely internal distortions.—
Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
Others, like Michael (Doon Mackichan), seem openly hostile.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Storms could be strong and organized, bringing all severe weather threats — tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds — and downpours will also be possible, the Weather Service said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2026
-
Why Migrations Generate Headaches One of the most damaging aspects of migration happens in the human aspect of the business.—
Thomas Berndorfer,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
But pretty quickly, Wahl said that both the mother and police realized something more dangerous could be brewing.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
-
Sheets touched on the other key to his success — and any dangerous hitter’s success — in the above quote.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
West Ham showed themselves to be a bad team, less than the sum of their parts and wholly ill-equipped for the challenge in front of them.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Each reiteration and exaggeration of Mary’s bad behavior is another civic stroke of the chisel that perfects the monumental Lincoln in our collective imagination.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adverse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adverse. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
