severeadjective
uk/sɪˈvɪər/us/səˈvɪr/severe adjective (VERY SERIOUS)
B2 causing very great pain, difficulty, worry, damage, etc.; very serious:
a severe chest infection/leg injury/toothache
This is a school for children with severe learning difficulties.
In parts of Africa there is a severe food/water shortage.
There is expected to be a severe frost tonight.
Severe cutbacks in public spending have been announced.
extreme or very difficult:
This will be a severe test of our strength.
More examples
- They confessed, but only under severe constraint.
- The latest trade figures have dealt a severe blow to hopes of an early economic recovery.
- The stock market crash marked the start of a severe depression.
- This year a severe drought has ruined the crops.
- In cases of severe mental handicap, constant supervision is recommended.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Serious and severe
- acute
- acutely
- chronic
- critical
- critically
- desperate
- dire
- egregious
- gravity
- grievous
- heaviness
- heavy
- mortal
- serious
- seriously
- severity
- stiffness
- swingeing
- terminal
- utmost
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Complicated and difficult to do
severe adjective (NOT KIND)
B2 not kind or showing sympathy; not willing to accept other people's mistakes or failures:
The headteacher spoke in a severe voice.
The president is currently facing severe criticism.
There are severe penalties for failing to declare all your income to the Inland Revenue.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Unkind, cruel & unfeeling
- acerbic
- acidly
- backbite
- backbiting
- backhanded
- barbaric
- bilious
- cruelty
- cutthroat
- fiendish
- hard-hearted
- have a heart of stone idiom
- insensible
- malign
- pitiless
- remorseless
- ruthless
- sadism
- sadist
- waspish
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Severe
severe adjective (PLAIN)
often disapproving completely plain and without decoration:
She wore a severe black dress, and plain black shoes.
I don't like these severe modern buildings.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Plain and ordinary
- as it comes idiom
- austere
- austerity
- be a dime a dozen idiom
- be two/ten a penny idiom
- dime
- homely
- homespun
- homey
- humble
- humdrum
- kitchen-sink
- penny
- shout
- simple
- something/nothing to shout about idiom
- spartan
- stale
- stark
- starkly
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