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severe
[ suh-veer ]
adjective
- harsh; unnecessarily extreme:
severe criticism; severe laws.
- serious or stern in manner or appearance:
a severe face.
Synonyms: grim, forbidding, dour, austere, punitive, draconian, rigorous, rigid, heavy-handed, strict
- threatening a seriously bad outcome or involving serious issues; grave:
a severe illness.
- rigidly restrained in style, taste, manner, etc.; simple, plain, or austere.
- 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.
- difficult to endure, perform, fulfill, etc.:
a severe test of his powers.
- rigidly exact, accurate, or methodical:
severe standards.
Antonyms: facile, effortless, easy
severe
/ sɪˈvɪə; sɪˈvɛrɪtɪ /
adjective
- rigorous or harsh in the treatment of others; strict
a severe parent
- serious in appearance or manner; stern
- critical or dangerous
a severe illness
- causing misery or discomfort by its harshness
severe weather
- strictly restrained in appearance; austere
a severe way of dressing
- hard to endure, perform, or accomplish
a severe test
- 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
Word History and Origins
Origin of severe1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Besides, the captain of La Sévère is a brave officer, who on that day lost his presence of mind.
At this moment the Sévère fell off to starboard, and her sails filled.
When the Sévère's flag came down, Suffren was approaching with his flagship.
The Sultan wore to rejoin her fleet, and was raked by the Sévère in so doing.
Elle est aussi sévère pour moi que M. Claude et reproche à maman de ne pas bien m'élever.
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