severely
Americanadverb
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Etymology
Origin of severely
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.
Nor is it loud and dry like that of a severely under-caffeinated customer who’s annoyed that the barista is holding up the line to chat with a regular.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
The IEA said Middle East crude exports have recovered significantly, but refined-product flows remain severely constrained.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
The kingdom has also resumed exporting oil via its East-West pipeline, which it has used to reroute most of its exports this year after the Iran war severely disrupted traffic through Hormuz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Condo construction in California has fallen off dramatically since the early 2000s, severely limiting access to the entry-level market for homeownership.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
I was so small and thin, and my hair was so shaggy, I could pass for a girl; I knew I would be severely punished if I were discovered.
From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
