adverse
ad-VURS
/ædˈvɜːrs/
Unfavorable, harmful, or detrimental to health and successful outcome; untoward.
In drug therapy, 'adverse reaction' or 'adverse event' refers to harmful or unintended consequences resulting from medical treatment.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'adversus' (turned against, opposing, hostile), past participle of 'advertere' (to turn toward, from 'ad-' to + 'vertere' to turn). In medical contexts, it describes a physiological turn against health.
Word relationships
- detrimental: Detrimental implies causing gradual harm or loss, whereas adverse describes unfavorable outcomes or negative reactions.
- deleterious: Deleterious is a formal, academic term for harmful effects that accumulate over time.
- beneficial: Producing good or helpful results for health.
- favorable: Expressing approval or giving a advantageous result.
Commonly confused with
- averse: Adverse means harmful or unfavorable (e.g. adverse reaction); averse means strongly feeling opposition or unwillingness (e.g. risk-averse).
Word family
- adversity (noun): Difficulties, misfortune, or hard times.
- adversely (adverb): In a harmful, negative, or unfavorable manner.
Collocations
- adverse effect
- adverse reaction
- adverse event
- adverse conditions
- adverse outcome
Example sentences
- "Physicians are required to report all serious adverse events observed during the drug trial to safety boards." Clinical Safety
- "Elderly patients are particularly susceptible to adverse drug interactions when taking multiple prescriptions." Pharmacology
Memory hook
ADVERSE = AD-DITIONAL WORSE effects. Adverse = Harmful, opposing good health.
When not to use
Do not confuse 'adverse' (harmful/unfavorable) with 'averse' (opposed or disinclined to something).
Fun facts
- In clinical research, an 'Adverse Event' is any bad outcome during a trial, whether caused by the drug or completely coincidental (like a broken leg).
Related words
Explore more words
adversity, uncomplimentary, inadvertent, malicious, intervention, woeful
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.