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.

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

1. harsh; unnecessarily extreme: severe criticism. 2. serious or stern in manner or appearance. 3. grave; critical: a severe illness. 4. rigidly restrained in style, taste, etc.; plain; austere.

Oct 8, 2025 · From Middle French, from Latin severus (“severe, serious, grave in demeanor”). In the severer cases of hookworm the patient sometimes has an appetite for soil, paper, hair, …

severe /sɪˈvɪə/ adj rigorous or harsh in the treatment of others; strict: a severe parent serious in appearance or manner; stern critical or dangerous: a severe illness causing misery or …

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 …

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.

severe meaning, definition, what is severe: severe problems, injuries, illnesses etc...: Learn more.