adverse

adjective

ad-ˈvərs How to pronounce adverse (audio)
Definition of adversenext
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

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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 In theory, tailoring dosages to meet the body’s immediate needs could mitigate adverse consequences for their extended use. — Mike McRae 19, New Atlas, 20 Aug. 2026 Side effects of the vaccine-drug combo were mostly mild or moderate, though some patients had to discontinue or delay the treatment due to adverse reactions. — Aria Bendix, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026 The Commission cannot lawfully grant renewal this early in the license terms—the only outcomes on the table are adverse to Plaintiffs. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026 Out of 88 trial participants, there were no adverse effects and good gastrointestinal tolerability for the daily pill, the company told STAT’s Elizabeth Cooney. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adverse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adverse
  1. unfavorable
  2. detrimental
  3. negative
  4. harmful
  5. hostile
  6. damaging
  7. dangerous
  8. bad
Adjective
  • The party has a 54% unfavorable rating compared to 40% favorable, according to a RealClearPolitics polling average.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But experts said the administration likely would appeal an unfavorable ruling to the Supreme Court, leaving the fate of hundreds of children and their families in doubt.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfavorable
Adjective
  • New redistricting maps There’s also the detrimental effects for Democrats of recent redistricting in Florida.
    — Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The math curriculum, in my view, has been detrimental to many students.
    — Olivia Young, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of detrimental
Adjective
  • Even dismissing the most extreme negative outcomes, consumers still stand to lose thousands if policymakers don’t act to reduce spending.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The sixth is to analyze failure types and to embrace any negative results.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of negative
Adjective
  • Child development experts have noted teenagers are more susceptible to social comparison than adults, so products that reward popularity can be more harmful to their mental health.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Beneficial bacteria also provide colonization resistance, competing with harmful microbes for nutrients and attachment sites while producing substances that inhibit their growth.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of harmful
Adjective
  • Alice and Gemma really don’t seem to get along, and neither seems inclined to back down from their hostile postures.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The true target of the strike was Turkey, which has grown increasingly hostile toward Israel since the war in Gaza, and over its differing approach to Syria.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • The greatest risk from the storms will be from damaging winds and heavy downpours.
    — Rachael Jay, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Although both helped mitigate the effects of the gas, urine offered some degree of chemical protection because its ammonia partially neutralized the chlorine, reducing the gas’s damaging and potentially lethal effects on the lungs.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of damaging
Adjective
  • The desert’s location on the southern border has led to many migrants attempting to cross it by using dangerous backcountry routes, the experts said.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Rather, this is a dangerous, shape-shifting synthetic entity that ravaged their entire planet.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • Neighbors said the rotten-egg smell has gotten worse over the last couple of weeks, even trailing to apartments across the street.
    — Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • For Panama, the result is a wet season that’s already been drier than usual and is likely to get worse.
    — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of bad

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adversary
adverse
adversely
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Cite this Entry

“Adverse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adverse. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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