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

Animals exposed to Migrion-mediated infection developed much more severe disease, including serious lung and brain infections.

From Science Daily

Yellow alerts stretch from Penzance to the Shetland Islands, while central and northern Scotland are under more severe amber warnings.

From BBC

Several clinical trials of MCL1 inhibitors were previously halted because patients experienced severe damage to the heart.

From Science Daily

Disruption on roads and the railway network is expected to continue as transport operators work to clear routes in severe wintry conditions.

From BBC

She described it as the "most severe muscular disease".

From BBC

Related Words

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