Synonyms

severely

American

[suh-veer-lee] / səˈvɪər li /

adverb

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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Word Forms

overseverely adverb
superseverely adverb
unseverely adverb

Etymology

Origin of severely

severe ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Wholesale oil and gas prices have soared over the past month, with supply from the Middle East severely disrupted.

From BBC

Another soldier was severely wounded and a reservist moderately wounded, the IDF said.

From BBC

Instead, he is reportedly considering bringing the current fighting to an end, having severely damaged Iran's navy and missile stocks, and will continue to pressure Iran diplomatically to reopen the flow of trade.

From BBC

Viewed in the halo glow of the tradwife’s ascendance, its version of empowerment is severely compromised.

From Salon

He sustained an adductor injury on the penultimate day of the series in Sydney and was severely hampered.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023