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, 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

Explanation

Whether you're talking about a punishment, the weather, or how bad your flu is, severe indicates that it's at the limit of the spectrum. The austerity of a word like severe serves many purposes. The common usage is to describe tough or painful stuff, like icy snowstorms, merciless punishments, or grim conditions (e.g., a severe depression). If things are severe, they're serious. Severe could also describe a person's haircut if it's brutally short and angular, or their wardrobe if it tends to be all black with no flourishes.

Example Sentences

When the loan becomes active again, the borrowers are unaware and miss payments until they go into default, which can have severe consequences.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

But the slowdown is likely to be more severe if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to shipping for much of what remains of the year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Spot helium prices could spike by 50%—200% in severe shortage scenarios, while contract prices are typically more stable but could increase 20%—40% on renegotiation, according to analysts at Fitch Ratings.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

The 36-year-old was taken to a local hospital with severe shoulder damage and fractures to several vertebrae in his back, and had major surgery.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Like, he has a severe phobia of vomit.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

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