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unfavorable or antagonistic in purpose or effect:
adverse criticism.
opposing one’s interests or desire:
adverse circumstances.
being or acting in a contrary direction; opposed or opposing:
adverse winds.
opposite; confronting:
the adverse page.
Contemporary Examples

As it is, this philosophy has turned into something that could adversely affect our economy.
Yes, I’m a Pure Republican Meghan McCain January 23, 2010

Being raised by nannies doesn’t seem to have adversely affected my kids at all.
God Bless My Nannies Laura Bennett February 11, 2009

I worry that these forces are nudging our kids towards behaviors that could adversely impact them down the road.
Teen Pregnancies Drop a Whopping 52 Percent in Two Decades Joshua DuBois December 7, 2013

Plus, “shareholders may be adversely affected by lack of regular shareholder meetings and no voting rights.”
Inside the Winklevoss Twins’ New Bitcoin Gambit Daniel Gross July 1, 2013

Others told us it adversely affected their career opportunities.
Why We’re Not Ranking Rabbis Gary Ginsberg, Michael Lynton, Abigail Pogrebin February 25, 2014

Historical Examples

The men in the cab saw that another minute would decide their fate, adversely or otherwise.
Chasing an Iron Horse Edward Robins

It was referred to the Committee on the Public Lands and reported on adversely.
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 2, 1917 Various

It is known that many plants are not adversely affected when grown under or near walnut trees.
Northern Nut Growers Association Thirty-Fourth Annual Report 1943 Various

Efficiency of operation is also adversely affected by a high labor turnover and the difficulty of finding qualified replacements.
Area Handbook for Bulgaria Eugene K. Keefe, Violeta D. Baluyut, William Giloane, Anne K. Long, James M. Moore, and Neda A. Walpole

How adversely would any errors be criticised here, and how sympathetically excused!
On the Future of our Educational Institutions Friedrich Nietzsche

adjective
antagonistic or inimical; hostile: adverse criticism
unfavourable to one’s interests: adverse circumstances
contrary or opposite in direction or position: adverse winds
(of leaves, flowers, etc) facing the main stem Compare averse (sense 2)
adj.

late 14c., “contrary, opposing,” from Old French avers (13c., Modern French adverse) “antagonistic, unfriendly, contrary, foreign” (e.g. gent avers “infidel race”), from Latin adversus “turned against, turned toward, fronting, facing,” figuratively “hostile, adverse, unfavorable,” past participle of advertere, from ad- “to” (see ad-) + vertere “to turn” (see versus). Related: Adversely.