What's the difference between "adverse" and "averse"?

Adverse and averse are both used to convey a negative idea, but one is an adjective and one is a verb.

Adverse is an adjective meaning something that's harmful, e.g. adverse weather conditions.

Averse is a verb meaning "a strong dislike", e.g. She is averse to the idea of marriage on philosophical grounds.

Examples of adverse in a sentence

No preparation for adverse weather.•

- 98.6 degrees: the art of keeping your ass alive by Cody Lundin; Russ Miller

I’m not adverse to that.

- Consider the Lobster: And Other Essays by David Foster Wallace

The adverse conditions could work in his favour, he decided.

- White corridor by Christopher Fowler

In adverse conditions, it rots very slowly.

- Renegade's Magic: Book Three of The Soldier Son Trilogy by Robin Hobb

Examples of averse in a sentence

On the whole, Mimi was not averse to this.

- Seeing Stars by Diane Hammond

Crisp breaded oysters are a good choice for those who are averse to eating them raw.

- Cooking for Friends by Gordon Ramsay; Ditte Isager

Don’t you think that to be so much afraid and averse is a sort of dirtiness?”

- Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence; Victoria Blake

You’re not averse to older men.

- The Maples stories by John Updike

Examples of adverse in a sentence