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View synonyms for

severe

[ suh-veer ]

adjective

severer, severest.
  1. harsh; unnecessarily extreme:

    severe criticism; severe laws.

    Antonyms: , ,

  2. serious or stern in manner or appearance:

    a severe face.

    Synonyms: , , , , , , , , ,

    Antonyms: , , ,

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

    a severe illness.

  4. rigidly restrained in style, taste, manner, etc.; simple, plain, or austere.

    Synonyms: , ,

  5. 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.
  6. difficult to endure, perform, fulfill, etc.:

    a severe test of his powers.

  7. rigidly exact, accurate, or methodical:

    severe standards.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms: , ,



severe

/ sɪˈvɪə; sɪˈvɛrɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. rigorous or harsh in the treatment of others; strict

    a severe parent

  2. serious in appearance or manner; stern
  3. critical or dangerous

    a severe illness

  4. causing misery or discomfort by its harshness

    severe weather

  5. strictly restrained in appearance; austere

    a severe way of dressing

  6. hard to endure, perform, or accomplish

    a severe test

  7. rigidly precise or exact
“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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Derived Forms

  • ˈ, adverb
  • ˈԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ·· adverb
  • ··Ա noun
  • ··· adjective
  • o·ver···Ա noun
  • ··· adjective
  • su·per···Ա noun
  • ܲ·· adjective
  • un···Ա noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of severe1

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin ŧܲ, or back formation from severity
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Word History and Origins

Origin of severe1

C16: from Latin ŧܲ
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Synonym Study

See stern 1.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Such events are only likely to become more severe and happen more often, as the planet continues to get hotter due to humanity's emissions of planet-warming gases.

From

They say the potential impacts of Berwick Bank are becoming so severe that they "overshadow and are undermining" the progress of other, lower impact windfarm applications.

From

In that time, the prosecutor said Catherine Flynn had suffered "severe injuries" to her face and brain that left her with "no chance" of survival.

From

Israel has also blocked all deliveries of humanitarian aid and other supplies to Gaza since 2 March, which the UN says has caused severe shortages of food, medicine and fuel.

From

Since opening its bug bounty programme, Axis has uncovered – and patched - as many as 30 vulnerabilities, says Mr Bastert, including one "we deem very severe".

From

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severance taxsevere combined immune deficiency