severe

[ suh-veer ]

/ səˈvɪər /

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See synonyms for: severe / severely on Thesaurus.com

adjective, se·ver·er, se·ver·est.

harsh; unnecessarily extreme: severe criticism; severe laws.

serious or stern in manner or appearance: a severe face.

threatening a seriously bad outcome or involving serious issues; grave: 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.

SYNONYMS FOR severe

1 strict, heavy-handed, rigid, rigorous; draconian, punitive.

2 austere, dour; forbidding, grim.

3 serious.

4 unadorned, stark, spartan.

7 demanding, exacting.

See synonyms for severe on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR severe

1 lenient, lax, tolerant.

2 gentle, benign.

5 mild, temperate.

6 undemanding; easy, effortless, facile.

See antonyms for severe on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of severe

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin sevērus, or back formation from severity

synonym study for severe

2. See stern¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM severe

se·vere·ly, adverbse·vere·ness, nouno·ver·se·vere, adjectiveo·ver·se·vere·ness, noun

su·per·se·vere, adjectivesu·per·se·vere·ness, nounun·se·vere, adjectiveun·se·vere·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for severe

As might be expected in this severer form of mental disturbance, heredity plays an especially important part in circular insanity.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
Of course, even in severer forms of epilepsy, mental disturbances do not appear at once.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
Severer forms of the affliction are readily recognised and the sufferer is properly restrained.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
Paranoia, at least in its severer forms, completely justifies the plea of irresponsibility for actions committed.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley

As the pressure of the time becomes severer, more of these unfit come into evidence.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley

British Dictionary definitions for severe

severe

/ (sɪˈvɪə) /

adjective

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

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

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WORD OF THE DAY

severe

adjective, se·ver·er, se·ver·est.

SYNONYMS FOR severe

ANTONYMS FOR severe

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of severe

synonym study for severe

OTHER WORDS FROM severe

Example sentences from the Web for severe

British Dictionary definitions for severe

adjective

Derived forms of severe

Word Origin for severe

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

severe

adjective, se·ver·er, se·ver·est.

SYNONYMS FOR severe

ANTONYMS FOR severe

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of severe

synonym study for severe

OTHER WORDS FROM severe

Words related to severe

Example sentences from the Web for severe

British Dictionary definitions for severe

adjective

Derived forms of severe

Word Origin for severe