severe
[suh-veer]
- harsh; unnecessarily extreme: severe criticism; severe laws.
- serious or stern in manner or appearance: a severe face.
- grave; critical: a severe illness.
- rigidly restrained in style, taste, manner, etc.; simple, plain, or austere.
- 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.
- difficult to endure, perform, fulfill, etc.: a severe test of his powers.
- rigidly exact, accurate, or methodical: severe standards.
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Origin of severe
Synonyms
See more synonyms for severe on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
1. lenient. 2. gentle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for severely
Contemporary Examples
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, joining in the chorus, severely berates Tehran for its role in the Levant.
Last year he was severely criticized for his handling of a land deal with a neighbor in financial distress.
Between 1999 and 2008, the number of severely intoxicated young women who wound up in E.R.s rose by 52 percent.
The turbulent waters caused one of his oars to crack, which—without a motor or a sail—can be severely detrimental to his voyage.
Since the outbreak began in March, global mobilization efforts to combat the epidemic have been severely delayed.
Historical Examples
I will not punish your fault so severely as Alcibiades ventured to hope.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
Mr. Disraeli was severely sarcastic at the expense of the government.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
It censured Mrs. McKee severely for having been, so to speak, and accessory after the fact.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
"It is certainly unchristian," commented Mrs. Porter, severely.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
The 24th Punjaub Infantry on the left were the most severely engaged.
The Story of the Malakand Field ForceSir Winston S. Churchill
severe
- rigorous or harsh in the treatment of others; stricta severe parent
- serious in appearance or manner; stern
- critical or dangerousa severe illness
- causing misery or discomfort by its harshnesssevere weather
- strictly restrained in appearance; austerea severe way of dressing
- hard to endure, perform, or accomplisha severe test
- rigidly precise or exact
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin sevērus
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for severely
severe
adj.
1540s, from Middle French severe (12c., Modern French sévère) or directly from Latin severus "serious, grave, strict, austere" (see severity). From 1660s with reference to styles or tastes; from 1725 of diseases.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper