adverseadjective [ before noun ]
uk/ˈæd.vɜːs//ədˈvɜːs/us/ædˈvɝːs/C2 having a negative or harmful effect on something:
The match has been cancelled because of adverse weather conditions.
They received a lot of adverse publicity/criticism about the changes.
So far the drug is thought not to have any adverse effects.
More examples
- He attracted a lot of adverse publicity with his speech about unmarried mothers.
- Reactions to the proposal so far have been adverse, but we may convince people in time.
- The world record attempt was postponed due to adverse conditions.
- He knew there would be an adverse reaction from his friends, so he tried to keep their affair secret.
- It is clear that these violent films have an adverse effect on children.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Dangerous and harmful
- apocalyptic
- biohazard
- damaging
- deleterious
- destabilize
- favour
- forbidding
- gnarly
- harm
- harmful
- inimical
- kiss
- negative
- penal
- pernicious
- rogue
- ruinous
- self-destruct
- stinking thinking
- toxic
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adversely
uk/ˈæd.vɜːs.li//ədˈvɜːs.li/us/ædˈvɝːs.li/
A lot of companies have been adversely affected (= in a harmful way) by the recession.