severe

[ suh-veer ]
/ səˈvɪər /

adjective, se·ver·er, se·ver·est.

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Origin of severe

1540–50; < Latin sevērus, or back formation from severity

SYNONYMS FOR severe

2 strict, hard. See stern1.
4 unadorned.
7 demanding, exacting.

ANTONYMS FOR severe

1 lenient.
2 gentle.

OTHER WORDS FROM severe

Words nearby severe

severally, severalty, severance, severance pay, severance tax, severe, severe acute respiratory syndrome, severe combined immune deficiency, severe combined immunodeficiency, severinus, severity
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for severeness

British Dictionary definitions for severeness

severe
/ (sɪˈvɪə) /

adjective

Derived forms of severe

severely, adverbsevereness or severity (sɪˈvɛrɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for severe

C16: from Latin sevērus
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012