severe

[suh-veer]

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

severe

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of severe¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of severe¹

C16: from Latin sevērus

Synonym Study

See stern ¹.

Example Sentences

He and other experts said in a report that California has needed far less federal aid than other states with more severe flooding.

From Los Angeles Times

The Dutch public broadcaster, Avrotros, said it too could no longer justify Israel's inclusion "given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza".

From BBC

She said she will continue to prescribe acetaminophen to pregnant patients who need to treat fevers or severe pain, as it has the fewest known risks in pregnancy.

From Los Angeles Times

Felix, who is suing the user in Seoul, said the accusations caused him "severe mental distress, physical distress and humiliation".

From BBC

If the court declines to grant an acquittal, his attorneys argued that a new trial is required due to "severe spillover prejudice from reams of inflammatory evidence".

From BBC

Related Words

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