severe, stern, austere, ascetic mean given to or marked by strict discipline and firm restraint. severe implies standards enforced without indulgence or laxity and may suggest harshness.

severe adjective (VERY SERIOUS) Add to word list causing great pain, difficulty, damage, etc.; very serious: a severe earthquake

SEVERE definition: harsh; unnecessarily extreme. See examples of severe used in a sentence.

Severe implies adherence to rigorous standards or high principles and often suggests harshness: "Praise or blame has but a momentary effect on the man whose love of beauty in the abstract …

The common usage is to describe tough or painful stuff, like icy snowstorms, merciless punishments, or grim conditions (e.g., a severe depression). If things are severe, they're serious.

Definition of severe adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Severe punishments or criticisms are very strong or harsh. This was a dreadful crime and a severe sentence is necessary.

Find 204 different ways to say SEVERE, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.

5 days ago · From Middle French, from Latin severus (“severe, serious, grave in demeanor”).

1. severe adjective. ['səˈvɪr'] intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality.