"Adore You" received favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented its overall production and Cyrus' vocals; it was further recognized as being among the more conservative offerings from its parent album.

It depicts Cyrus suggestively posing in a bed and a bathtub, and is interspersed with night vision footage that resembles a celebrity sex tape.

[4] Its lyrics discuss "power imbalance in love";[5] in the chorus, she states her affection towards her boyfriend through the lines "When you say you need me / Know I need you more / Boy, I adore you", although Kyle Fowle of Slant Magazine felt that Cyrus' reliance in her partner is admittedly detrimental to her personal well-being as the song continues.

It shows the lower half of Cyrus' face covered by a bouquet of roses, with the title "Adore You" stylized in an all-capitalized sans serif font.

[10] The artwork was complimented for its uncharacteristically conservative nature in comparison to her earlier projects which by this time had become associated with Cyrus' new sexually provocative public image.

Heather Phares from AllMusic felt that opening Bangerz with an "unabashedly romantic slow song" was "almost as bold a move as the publicity events that preceded the album's release.

[15] Writing for Slant Magazine, Kyle Fowle appreciated the "careful balance of vulnerability and strength" for "[elevating the] potentially tired themes [of destructive dependence]".

"[17] "Adore You" was the highest-charting non-single from Bangerz in the United States, having entered at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week that the record was released in October.

[33] The accompanying music video for "Adore You" directed by Rankin[34] was scheduled to be premiered through Vevo on December 26, 2013; in the days preceding its release, Cyrus uploaded two brief previews of the clip through her Instagram account.

During "Adore You" in particular, Cyrus was dressed in a matching jean jacket, bra, and pants set; she performed the full track while standing in place on the stage.

[52] The remixed version of "Adore You" substitutes the original "amorphous rhythms" with prominent elements of dance music, which incorporates a "thumping beat" and progresses into a "dazzling drop" during the chorus.

"[56] James Shotwell from Under the Gun Review felt that the album version of the track was "a bit of a snoozer", and jokingly said to attempt to "resist" enjoying the remix.

[57] Vanyaland contributor Michael Marotta agreed that the song benefited from "a much-needed energy injection" that he hoped would "[get] exposed" through Cyrus' Bangerz Tour.

[58] Writing for Idolator, Mike Wass commented the track worked better with the original "minimal production" and thought that the remix was "cheesy", although he admitted that he "wouldn't switch channels if it came on the radio.