severe

American  

[suh-veer] / səˈvɪər /

adjective

severer, severest

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 , 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

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severe British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See stern ¹.

Other Word Forms

• oversevere adjective
• oversevereness noun
• severely adverb
• severeness noun
• supersevere adjective
• supersevereness noun
• unsevere adjective
• unsevereness noun

Etymology

Origin of severe

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

Example Sentences

This contraction was driven by a surge in Chinese silver exports in October, mostly shipped to London, where severe shortages have occurred.

From The Wall Street Journal

An amber Met Office severe weather warning for rain is in force across south Wales, while multiple yellow warnings are in force for many western areas of the UK.

From BBC

“A severe blow to Logic” is how a character describes the death of a philosophy professor in Stoppard’s 1972 play “Jumpers.”

From Los Angeles Times

The researchers found that infants who suffer severe RSV infections in their first months of life are more likely to develop immune responses that overreact to common allergens, including house dust mites.

From Science Daily

But there are no details about how to begin to generate growth and stability, just as the UN's trade agency warns that the strip is going through the most severe economic crisis ever recorded.

From BBC

Related Words

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