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severe definition

se·vere (sə vir)

adjective severer -·ver′er, severest -·ver′·est

  1. harsh, strict, or highly critical, as in treatment; unsparing; stern
  2. serious or grave; forbidding, as in expression or manner
  3. serious or grievous a severe wound
  4. conforming strictly to a rule, method, standard, etc.; rigidly accurate or demanding a severe philosophy
  5. extremely plain or simple; unornamented; restrained a dress with severe lines
  6. keen; extreme; intense severe pain
  7. difficult; rigorous; trying a severe test

Etymology: < MFr < OFr < L severus, prob. < se-, apart (see secede) + IE base *wer-, (to be) friendly > OE wær, faith, pledge, bond (of friendship)

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

severe Synonyms

severe

modif.

  1. Stern

    stern, exacting, uncompromising, unbending, inflexible, unchanging, unalterable, inexorable, harsh, cruel, oppressive, close, grinding, peremptory, obdurate, resolute, austere, rigid, grim, earnest, stiff, forbidding, resolved, relentless, strait-laced, determined, unfeeling, insensate, with an iron will, strict, inconsiderate, firm, immovable, as firm as the Rock of Gibraltar, adamant, unyielding.

    Antonyms flexible*, yielding*, genial. *

  2. Difficult or rigorous

    overbearing, tyrannical, mordant, sharp, exacting, stringent, drastic, domineering, rigid, oppressive, despotic, unmerciful, bullying, uncompromising, obdurate, relentless, unrelenting, hard, rigorous, austere, grinding, ascetic, grim, implacable, cruel, pitiless, critical, unjust, barbarous, censorious, crusty, gruff, crabbed, unmitigated, intractable, stubborn, autocratic, Draconian, with a heart of granite, stony-hearted, hard-shell*, rock-ribbed*, hidebound*; see also difficult 1.

    Antonyms easy*, easygoing*, indulgent.

severe applies to a person or thing that is strict, uncompromising, or restrained and connotes a total absence of softness, laxity, frivolity, etc. a severe critic, hairdo, etc. and may often imply harshness severe punishment, a severe tornado; stern implies an unyielding firmness, esp. as manifested in a grim or forbidding aspect or manner a stern guardian; austere suggests harsh restraint, self-denial, stark simplicity the austere diet of wartime, or an absence of warmth, passion, ornamentation, etc. an austere bedroom; ascetic implies extreme self-denial and self-discipline or even, sometimes, the deliberate self-infliction of pain and discomfort, as by religious fanatics an ascetic hermit


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

severe Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • exceptionally: Cold Weather Payments - Payment made during a period of exceptionally severe weather to vulnerable households on Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.

Infinitive complement

  • interfere: Up to 15 % of women have period pains severe enough to interfere with their daily activities.

Modifies a noun

  • pain: The proportion with severe pain on movement fell from 37 % to 12 % .

Used with adjective complement

  • become: They occur more frequently or become more severe during times of emotional stress.
severe usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

severe quotes

The village master taught his little school; A man severe he was and stern to view; I knew him well, and every truant knew; Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace The day's disasters in his morning face; Full well they laughed, with counterfeited glee, At all his jokes, for manya joke had he.

-Goldsmith, Oliver

Most people really believe that the Christian commandments (e.g. to love one's neighbour as oneself) are intentionally a little too severeölike putting Kincaid the clockonhalf anhour tomakesure of not being late in the morning.

-Kierkegaard, So«  ren Aabye

severe quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"severe." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/severe>

APA Style

severe. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/severe

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