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   severe

   /sɪˈvɪə/

   adjective

   • 1. (of something bad or undesirable) very great; intense: "a severe shortage of technicians" Similar acutevery badseriousgravecriticaldiredrasticgrievousextremedreadfulterribleawfulfrightfulappallingsorealarmingworryingdistressingdangerousperilouslife-threateningperacuteprofoundarchaic, humorous:parlousfierceviolentstrongwildpowerfulforcefulintensetempestuousturbulenttumultuousexcruciatingagonizingviolentintensedreadfulawfulterriblefrightfulunbearableintolerableunendurablestabbingshootinginformal:splittingthumpingpoundingOpposite minornegligiblegentleslight
   • ▪ demanding great ability, skill, or resilience: "a severe test of stamina" Similar very difficultdemandinghardtougharduousformidabletaxingexactingrigorouspunishingonerousgruellingburdensomeheavyback-breakinguphillstiffOpposite easysimple
   • 2. (of punishment of a person) strict or harsh: "the charges would have warranted a severe sentence" Similar harshhardbitterbitterly coldcoldbleakfreezingicyarcticpolarSiberianextremenastyharshscathingsharpstrongfierceferociousstringentsavageblisteringsearingstingingscorchingdevastatingmordanttrenchantcausticbitingcuttingwitheringrigorousunsparingsmartsoundextortionateexcessiveunreasonableinordinateoutrageoussky-highharshstiffpunitivepunishingpenalswingeingstrictsternrigorousharshhardinflexibleuncompromisinginexorableimplacablerigidunbendingrelentlessunrelentingunyieldingmercilesspitilessruthlessdraconianoppressiverepressivepunitiveroughnastytyrannicaliron-fistediron-handedbrutalinhumancruelsavageinformal:solidOpposite mildmildlenientlax
   • ▪ (of a person) formal and unsmiling. Similar sterndourgrimgrim-facedforbiddingdisapprovingtight-lippedunsmilingunfriendlysombregravesoberseriousausterestiffflintystonysteelygloweringfrowningcoldalooffrostyicyfrigidOpposite genialfriendly
   • 3. very plain in style or appearance: "she wore another severe suit, grey this time" Similar plainsimplerestrainedunadornedundecoratedunembellishedunornamentedausterechastesparestarkultra-plainunfussywithout frillsspartanasceticmonasticpuritanicalfunctionalclinicalunclutteredclassicOpposite ornatefancy

   Word Origin mid 16th century (in severe (sense 2)): from French sévère or Latin severus.

   Scrabble Points: 9

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