severely

[ suh-veer-lee ]

adverb

1. in a very stern, strict, or harsh way:

   One day he was caught taking a few pieces of scrap wood and was severely punished with two weeks of hard labor.

2. to a grave, far-reaching, or critical degree; seriously:

   Severely ill patients with kidney infections may be hospitalized until they can take fluids and medications on their own.

3. in a very simple, plain, or austere style or manner:

   She wore her hair severely tied back in a ponytail and refused to wear anything feminine.

4. in a very challenging or exacting way that is difficult to endure:

   The Great Depression severely tested the parish, as the church building was almost lost to creditors.

5. to a distressing or highly uncomfortable degree:

   Much of North America experiences periods of severely cold weather and is susceptible to snow and ice storms.

Other Words From

• o·ver·se·vere·ly adverb
• su·per·se·vere·ly adverb
• un·se·vere·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of severely¹

severe ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Instead, he was joining other teachers sweeping up material from an early morning fire underneath the stadium bleachers that severely damaged the press box.

From Los Angeles Times

Hundreds of people have been killed and between 100,000 and 130,000 others have been displaced to Gaza City, where the UN has said essential resources like shelter, water and healthcare are severely limited.

From BBC

The federal office said it had scrutinized medical records, testimony and interviews that “showcase how severely delayed Kira Johnson’s diagnosis and care was.”

From Los Angeles Times

However, she said her daughter had been severely affected when she was 13 years old by the death of her grandmother.

From BBC

In October 2023 a natural gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was severely damaged.

From BBC

Related Words

• acutely
• badly
• critically
• dangerously
• extremely
• firmly
• markedly
• painfully
• seriously
• sharply
• sorely
• sternly
• strictly