- 1. superl. Serious in feeeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not light, lively, or cheerful. Source: opted
- 2. superl. Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment. Source: opted
- 3. superl. Rigidly methodical, or adherent to rule or principle; exactly conformed to a standard; not allowing or employing unneccessary ornament, amplification, etc.; strict; -- said of style, argument, etc. Source: opted
- 4. superl. Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold. Source: opted
- 5. superl. Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a severe test. Source: opted
- 6. adj. intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality Source: wordnet
- 7. adj. very strong or vigorous Source: wordnet
- 8. adj. severely simple Source: wordnet
- 9. adj. unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment Source: wordnet
- 10. adj. causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm Source: wordnet
- 11. adj. very bad in degree or extent Source: wordnet
- 12. 1. Serious in feeeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not light, lively, or cheerful. Your looks alter, as your subject does, From kind to fierce, from wanton to severe. Waller. 2. Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment. "Custody severe." Milton. Come! you are too severe a moraler. Shak. Let your zeal, if it must be expressed in anger, be always more severe against thyself than against others. Jer. Taylor. 3. Rigidly methodical, or adherent to rule or principle; exactly conformed to a standard; not allowing or employing unneccessary ornament, amplification, etc.; strict; -- said of style, argument, etc. "Restrained by reason and severe principles." Jer. Taylor. The Latin, a most severe and compendious language. Dryden. 4. Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold. 5. Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a severe test. Syn. -- Strict; grave; austere; stern; morose; rigid; exact; rigorous; hard; rough; harsh; censorious; tart; acrimonious; sarcastic; satirical; cutting; biting; keen; bitter; cruel. See Strict. -- Se*vere"ly, adv. -- Se*vere"ness, n. Source: webster
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