severe

severe: [[t]sɪvɪ͟ə(r)[/t]]
♦♦

severer, severest

1) ADJ-GRADED You use severe to indicate that something bad or undesirable is great or intense.

...a business with severe cash flow problems...

I suffered from severe bouts of depression...

Steve passed out on the floor and woke up blinded and in severe pain...

Shortages of professional staff are very severe in some places.

Derived words:

severely ADV-GRADED usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
The UN wants to send food aid to 10 countries in Africa severely affected by the drought...

An aircraft overshot the runway and was severely damaged.

...the severely depressed construction industry.

severity [[t]sɪverɪti[/t]] N-UNCOUNT usu with supp
Several drugs are used to lessen the severity of the symptoms.

2) ADJ-GRADED Severe punishments or criticisms are very strong or harsh.

This was a dreadful crime and a severe sentence is necessary...

Before she could reply, my mother launched into a severe reprimand.

Syn:

harsh

Derived words:

severely ADV-GRADED ADV with v
...a campaign to try to change the law to punish dangerous drivers more severely.

severity N-UNCOUNT usu with supp
The Bishop said he was sickened by the severity of the sentence...

Believers were treated with the same severity as the Christians had been a few years earlier.

3) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) If you describe the appearance of someone or something as severe, you do not like its plain appearance and lack of decoration.

...wearing her felt hats and severe grey suits...

The cushions add a touch of colour in a room that might otherwise look severe.

Syn:

austere

Derived words:

severity N-UNCOUNT usu with supp
When women started working in offices, they opted for severity in dress in order to imply sobriety.

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Synonyms:

Rigid, stern, strict, sharp, harsh, bitter, austere, rigorous, stiff, strait-laced, hard, unrelenting, relentless, inexorable, peremptory, censorious, cruel, bitter, morose / Strict, exact, accurate, methodical / Simple, plain, unadorned, chaste / Caustic, satirical, sarcastic, keen, cutting, stinging, biting, sharp, harsh, bitter, cruel, trenchant / Distressing, afflictive, acute, violent, extreme, intense, sharp / Serious, earnest, sedate, grave, austere, sober / Exact, critical, rigorous, hard

Look at other dictionaries:

sévère — [ sevɛr ] adj. • fin XIIe; lat. severus 1 ♦ (Personnes) Qui n admet pas qu on manque à la règle; prompt à punir ou à blâmer. ⇒ dur, exigeant, strict, fam. vache. Des parents sévères. Le juge s est montré très sévère. ⇒ impitoyable. « elle était… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Severe — Sévère (chanteuse) Sévère est une rappeuse française d origine congolaise, née le 10 février 1982 à Strasbourg. Sommaire 1 Son d la rue Meufia 2 Parcours 3 Notes … Wikipédia en Français
severe — severe, stern, austere, ascetic can all mean given to or characterized by strict discipline and firm restraint. Severe is applicable to persons and their looks, acts, thoughts, and utterances or to things (as laws, penalties, judgments, and… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
Severe — Se*vere , a. [Compar. {Severer}; superl. {Severest}.] [L. severus; perhaps akin to Gr. ??? awe, ??? revered, holy, solemn, Goth. swikns innocent, chaste: cf. F. s[ e]v[ e]re. Cf. {Asseverate}, {Persevere}.] 1. Serious in feeling or manner;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
severe — SEVERE. adj. de t. g. Rigide, qui exige une extreme regularité, & pardonne peu ou point. Un Prince severe. Juge severe. severe censeur. ce pere est trop severe envers ses enfans. Il se dit aussi des choses. Vertu severe. punition severe. il fit… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
severe — [sə vir′] adj. severer, severest [< MFr < OFr < L severus, prob. < se , apart (see SECEDE) + IE base * wer , (to be) friendly > OE wær, faith, pledge, bond (of friendship)] 1. harsh, strict, or highly critical, as in treatment;… … English World dictionary
severe — I adjective acrimonious, afflictive, agonizing, astringent, austere, austerus, bearish, brutal, censorious, churlish, coercive, cold, condemnatory, critical, cruel, despotic, difficult, domineering, dour, drastic, durus, exacting, excruciating,… … Law dictionary
Sévère — Ancien nom de baptême correspondant au latin Severus (= sérieux, sévère), popularisé par un empereur romain, puis par divers saints … Noms de famille
severe — 1540s, from Fr. sévère, from L. severus (see SEVERITY (Cf. severity)) … Etymology dictionary
severe — [adj1] uncompromising, stern astringent, austere, biting, caustic, close, cold, cruel, cutting, disapproving, dour, earnest, firm, flinty, forbidding, grave, grim, hard, hardnosed*, harsh, inconsiderate, inexorable, inflexible, iron handed,… … New thesaurus
severe — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of something bad, undesirable, or difficult) very great; intense. 2) strict or harsh. 3) very plain in style or appearance. DERIVATIVES severely adverb severity noun. ORIGIN Latin severus … English terms dictionary

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severe

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