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Definitions

severe

[suh-veer] / səˈvɪər /
ADJECTIVE
uncompromising, stern
Synonyms
STRONGEST
harsh relentless serious strict stringent
WEAK
ascetic astringent austere biting caustic close cold cruel cutting despotic disapproving dour earnest firm flinty forbidding grave grim hard hard-nosed inconsiderate inexorable inflexible iron-handed obdurate oppressive peremptory pitiless resolute resolved rigid rigorous satirical scathing sober stern stiff strait-laced tight-lipped tyrannical unalterable unbending unchanging unfeeling unrelenting unsmiling unsparing
Antonyms
STRONGEST
kind
WEAK
amenable calm compromising easy easygoing facile friendly mild temperate willing
ADJECTIVE
harsh; extreme
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acute bitter dangerous drastic extreme fierce heavy intense punishing serious sharp tough violent
WEAK
arduous bleak consequential critical demanding distressing domineering effortful exacting forbidding grave grim grinding hard hefty implacable inclement intemperate mordant oppressive overbearing pitiless rugged strenuous taxing toilsome unpleasant unrelenting weighty wicked
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bland blunt calm dull easy gentle light mild moderate peaceful tender trivial unimportant
WEAK
amenable easygoing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping ousted Politburo member Ma Xingrui for alleged severe violations, the third such ouster in six months.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Patients with more severe illness had a greater number of these clusters, while healthy donor lungs showed none.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

"Great Britain used to have that, and I think that the only way to stop it is to make the consequences a lot more severe than what they are."

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

There have been worse years, Schwartz noted, including during a severe drought in 2015, when the sparse snow disappeared around the lab even earlier.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Gunwoo and his mother had been unable to leave Seosan due to her long recovery from severe leg injuries.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.