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.

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 …

2 days ago · A sprawling line of severe thunderstorms that slammed the Heartland Sunday is charging east Monday, placing more than 12 million people across parts of the Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast …

1 day ago · Extreme weather conditions from coast to coast put more than half the U.S. in the path of rough conditions.

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.

Feb 26, 2026 · Adjective severe (comparative severer or more severe, superlative severest or most severe) Very bad or intense. Synonyms: extreme, intense Antonyms: mild, minor

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

Severe punishments or criticisms are very strong or harsh. This was a dreadful crime and a severe sentence is necessary.