adverse / repugnant
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adverse
Unfavorable, difficult, or hostile. Often used to describe circumstances, conditions, or weather that work against someone or something.
Trotz der widrigen Wetterverhältnisse erreichte die Expedition den Gipfel.
Despite the adverse weather conditions, the expedition reached the summit.
repugnant
Disgusting, repulsive, or objectionable. Describes something that causes disgust or strong moral aversion.
Sein hinterhältiges Verhalten war mir zutiefst widrig.
His deceitful behavior was deeply repugnant to me.
The adjective 'widrig' (adverse/repugnant) is derived from the preposition 'wider' (against). It therefore describes something that is directed against someone or something, or that opposes it.
Er kämpfte gegen den widrigen Wind an.
He struggled against the adverse wind.
'Widrig' (adverse/repugnant) belongs to elevated or formal language. In everyday colloquial speech, other words such as 'schwierig' (difficult) or 'schlecht' (bad) are often used.
Der Anwalt sprach von widrigen Vertragsbedingungen.
The lawyer spoke of adverse contract terms.
In the meaning 'ungünstig' (unfavorable), 'widrig' (adverse) is very often used in fixed combinations. The most common is 'widrige Umstände' (adverse circumstances), but 'widrige Bedingungen' (adverse conditions) or 'widriges Wetter' (adverse weather) are also typical.
Trotz widriger Umstände hat er sein Ziel erreicht.
Despite adverse circumstances, he achieved his goal.
You can recognize the meaning 'abstoßend' (repulsive) from the context. It usually refers to morally bad behavior or character traits, while the other meaning describes external conditions.
Seine Lügen und sein Verrat waren mir zutiefst widrig.
His lies and betrayal were deeply repugnant to me.
To express who finds something repugnant, a dative construction is often used: Something is 'jemandem widrig' (repugnant to someone).
Diese Art von Heuchelei ist mir einfach widrig.
This kind of hypocrisy is simply repugnant to me.
difficult
Unfavorable circumstances can be schwierig (difficult) or widrig (adverse). „Schwierig“ emphasizes that a situation causes problems and requires effort, while „widrig“ highlights the external resistance created by the conditions. Use „widrig“ especially for circumstances, conditions, or weather that work against someone.
Wegen der widrigen Wetterbedingungen kam das Team auf der Baustelle nur langsam voran.
Because of the adverse weather conditions, the team made slow progress at the construction site.
Die schwierige Lage auf der Baustelle verlangte dem Team viel Geduld ab.
The difficult situation at the construction site required a great deal of patience from the team.
