The Lost Art of the Great Speech: How to Write It * How to Deliver It

Averse/adverse

These two similar words are often confused. To be averse to something is to oppose it, as in "The congresswoman was averse to a tax increase." Averse can apply only to a person. Adverse means unfavorable and usually applies to conditions. Thus, we may say that the congresswoman was averse to a tax increase because it might cause adverse business conditions.