severely
Americanadverb
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Arthur goes on to attack her daughter’s credibility, but without producing any evidence beyond her own testimony, which is severely imperiled by a documented history of her own actions.
From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026
"However, in the short term, with severely challenged volumes, we need to reinforce our turnaround plan with additional decisive actions, lowering our break-even point and improving cash flows to make us more resilient."
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
If you retire without actually having enough money in retirement, you may have to severely cut back on your spending in retirement, especially as people are living longer and retirement can now last decades.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
As one severely ill baby leaves, another arrives.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
Why is he wearing a lumberjack flannel shirt with pearly snap buttons tucked severely into high-waisted dress pants today?
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
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