adverse

What does “adverse” mean?

adjective.preventing success or development; harmful; unfavorable.

SAT Usage

The term often appears in contexts related to challenges, obstacles, or negative outcomes, frequently within discussions of health, environmental issues, or economic conditions. It emphasizes the detrimental impact of certain factors, contrasting with words like "unfavorable," which may lack the strong connotation of harm or obstruction that "adverse" carries.

Common Confusions

Adverse implies a strong negative impact or obstruction to success, while unfavorable usually suggests a less intense negative condition without the same degree of harm.

Example Sentences

• The team played well despite adverse weather conditions.

Word Parts: How to Remember “adverse”

Break “adverse” into its parts: ad- (to, toward). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ad- to, toward (Latin)