Aug 3, 2026 · 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) causing great pain, difficulty, damage, etc.; very serious: a severe earthquake

2 days ago · 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 …

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

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

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 …

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

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

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