adversely

adversely — adverb

1. so as to cause damage, harm, or some other unwanted result for someone or someth

1.adverbC1
Definition

so as to cause damage, harm, or some other unwanted result for someone or something — used especially when describing how an event, decision, or condition hurts a group, an outcome, or a person's situation.

Example

The drought adversely affected rice farmers across southern Taiwan last summer.

adversely + affect + noun (typical pattern)

Dilnoza's grades were adversely impacted by her long illness in March.

passive: be adversely impacted by + cause

Common collocations
  • adversely affect
  • adversely impact
  • adversely influence
  • be adversely affected by
  • react adversely
  • respond adversely
Synonyms
  • negatively

    more general and neutral; works in everyday speech

  • harmfully

    stresses real damage; less common as a modifier of 'affect'

  • unfavourably

    formal; suggests a bad outcome rather than physical harm

Antonyms
  • favourably

    in a way that gives a good result

  • positively

    everyday equivalent; less formal than 'favourably'

Grammar Patterns

adversely affect + noun

be adversely affected by + noun

Usage Note

Almost always followed by a verb meaning 'have an effect' — most often 'affect', then 'impact' or 'influence'. Rarely modifies other kinds of verbs. Common in formal contexts: news reports, legal writing, scientific studies.

Common Mistakes

The medicine worked adversely on my stomach.
The medicine adversely affected my stomach.
'adversely' modifies an effect verb, not a manner of doing something.
She felt adversely about the plan.
She reacted adversely to the plan.
pair with action verbs like 'react' or 'respond', not feeling verbs.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four describe a bad effect on something, but they sit at different levels of formality and focus. 'Adversely' is the most formal and almost always pairs with verbs like 'affect', 'impact', or 'influence' in news, legal, and academic writing — 'The storm adversely affected crops.' 'Negatively' is the everyday choice and fits casual speech: 'It negatively affected my mood.' 'Unfavourably' suggests a bad judgement or comparison rather than damage: 'The report described the plan unfavourably.' 'Harmfully' stresses real, often physical damage and is the strongest word: 'The chemicals acted harmfully on the soil.' Use 'adversely' when writing formally, 'negatively' when speaking, 'unfavourably' for opinions, and 'harmfully' for actual injury.

adversely ↗negatively ↗unfavourablyharmfully

Common collocations

Phrases

  • adversely affect
  • adversely impact
  • adversely influence
  • be adversely affected

Prepositions

  • adversely affected by
  • react adversely to
  • respond adversely to

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in English by adding the adverb ending '-ly' to the adjective 'adverse', which entered English in the late 14th century from Old French 'advers', from Latin 'adversus' meaning 'turned against' or 'opposed'. The Latin word combines 'ad-' ('toward') with 'versus' ('turned'), the past participle of 'vertere' ('to turn'). The original idea was of something facing you in opposition, and over time this shifted to mean simply 'unfavourable' or 'harmful'.