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synonyms

definitions

severe

see definition of severe

adjuncompromising, stern

adjdifficult, harsh

Word Origin & History

1540s, from Middle French severe (12c., Modern French sévère) or directly from Latin severus "serious, grave, strict, austere" (see severity). From 1660s with reference to styles or tastes; from 1725 of diseases.

Example Sentences for severe

The blow was a bit too severe and the Egyptian fell down dead.

Had I been subject only to his examination, my ordeal would not have been severe.

Well, indeed, might my mother say, that I should have severe trials.

In severe obedience to orders, therefore, he did not even now call.

She had held her inclinations in check with severe judgment.

"I do not understand, Rico," ...

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Synonyms for severe

adj uncompromising, stern

harsh
relentless
serious
strict
astringent
austere
biting
caustic
close
cold
cruel
cutting
disapproving
dour
earnest
firm
flinty
forbidding
grave
grim
hard
hard-nosed
inconsiderate
inexorable
inflexible
iron-handed
obdurate
oppressive
peremptory
pitiless
resolute
resolved
rigid
satirical
scathing
sober
stern
stiff
strait-laced
tight-lipped
unalterable
unbending
unchanging
unfeeling
unrelenting
unsmiling
unsparing

Antonyms for severe

kind
amenable
calm
compromising
easy
easy-going
facile
friendly
mild
temperate
willing

More words related to severe

accurate

adjective. precise

authentic
careful
close
concrete
correct
defined
definite
deft
detailed
discriminating
discriminative
distinct
exact
explicit
factual
faithful
genuine
judicious
just
literal
matter-of-fact
methodical
meticulous
on the button
on the money
on the nose
particular
proper
punctilious
punctual
regular
right
rigid
rigorous
scientific
scrupulous
severe
sharp
skillful
solid
specific
strict
systematic
true
ultraprecise
unerring
unmistakable
veracious

acute

adjective. severe, intense

cutting
distressing
excruciating
exquisite
fierce
keen
overpowering
overwhelming
piercing
poignant
powerful
racking
severe
sharp
shooting
stabbing
sudden
violent

ambitious

adjective. requiring great effort, ability

arduous
bold
challenging
demanding
difficult
elaborate
energetic
exacting
formidable
grandiose
hard
impressive
industrious
lofty
pretentious
severe
strenuous
visionary

arduous

adjective. difficult, hard to endure

backbreaking
burdensome
exhausting
fatiguing
formidable
grueling
harsh
heavy
labored
laborious
murder
no picnic
onerous
painful
punishing
rigorous
rough
severe
strenuous
taxing
tiring
toilsome
tough
troublesome
trying
uphill

austere

adjective. grim, barren

bald
bare
bare-bones
bleak
clean
dour
plain
primitive
rustic
severe
simple
spare
spartan
stark
subdued
unadorned
unembellished
vanilla

authoritarian

adjective. domineering

absolute
authoritative
autocratic
despotic
dictatorial
disciplinarian
doctrinaire
dogmatic
harsh
imperious
magisterial
rigid
severe
strict
totalitarian
tyrannical
unyielding

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