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

Severe definition: Unsparing, harsh, or strict, as in treatment of others.

Learn what severe means with clear definitions, pronunciation, synonyms, and real-world examples. Simple explanations to help you use severe correctly.

Recommended for you

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

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 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 makes …

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

Some common synonyms of severe are ascetic, austere, and stern. While all these words mean "given to or marked by strict discipline and firm restraint," severe implies standards enforced without …

Some common synonyms of severe are ascetic, austere, and stern. While all these words mean "given to or marked by strict discipline and firm restraint," severe implies standards enforced without …

You may also like