severe

[ suh-veer ]

adjective

, se·ver·er, se·ver·est.

1. harsh; unnecessarily extreme:

   severe criticism; severe laws.

   Antonyms: tolerant, lax, lenient

2. serious or stern in manner or appearance:

   a severe face.

   Synonyms: grim, forbidding, dour, austere, punitive, draconian, rigorous, rigid, heavy-handed, strict

   Antonyms: temperate, mild, benign, gentle

3. threatening a seriously bad outcome or involving serious issues; grave:

   a severe illness.

4. rigidly restrained in style, taste, manner, etc.; simple, plain, or austere.

   Synonyms: stark, serious, spartan

5. causing discomfort or distress by extreme character or conditions, as weather, cold, or heat; unpleasantly violent, as rain or wind, or a blow or shock.
6. difficult to endure, perform, fulfill, etc.:

   a severe test of his powers.

7. rigidly exact, accurate, or methodical:

   severe standards.

   Synonyms: exacting, demanding

   Antonyms: facile, effortless, easy

severe

/ sɪˈvɪə; sɪˈvɛrɪtɪ /

adjective

1. rigorous or harsh in the treatment of others; strict

   a severe parent

2. serious in appearance or manner; stern
3. critical or dangerous

   a severe illness

4. causing misery or discomfort by its harshness

   severe weather

5. strictly restrained in appearance; austere

   a severe way of dressing

6. hard to endure, perform, or accomplish

   a severe test

7. rigidly precise or exact

Derived Forms

• seˈverely, adverb
• seˈvereness, noun

Other Words From

• se·vere·ly adverb
• se·vere·ness noun
• o·ver·se·vere adjective
• o·ver·se·vere·ness noun
• su·per·se·vere adjective
• su·per·se·vere·ness noun
• un·se·vere adjective
• un·se·vere·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of severe¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin sevērus, or back formation from severity

Word History and Origins

Origin of severe¹

C16: from Latin sevērus

Synonym Study

See stern ¹.

Example Sentences

Since Tuesday, 17 children had arrived at the emergency room showing signs of malnutrition and an elderly man had died due to severe dehydration, he added.

From BBC

Transport for Wales said 13% of its services had been disrupted due to severe weather.

From BBC

Being able to reconstruct a tropical cyclone's wind field provides valuable data that experts can use to determine how severe the storm will be.

From Science Daily

Lai is one of the most influential pro-democracy figures in the city, which has come under an increasingly severe crackdown from Beijing.

From BBC

"This emphasizes the need for a therapy that can treat more severe infection," he said.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• acute
• bitter
• dangerous
• drastic
• extreme
• fierce
• heavy
• intense
• punishing
• serious
• sharp
• tough
• violent