severer; severest
1
a
: strict in judgment, discipline, or government
b
: of a strict or stern bearing or manner : austere
2
: rigorous in restraint, punishment, or requirement : stringent
3
: strongly critical or condemnatory
a severe critic
4
a
: maintaining a scrupulously exacting standard of behavior or self-discipline
b
: establishing exacting standards of accuracy and integrity in intellectual processes
a severe logician
5
: sober or restrained in decoration or manner : plain
a severe dress
6
a
: causing discomfort or hardship : harsh
severe winters
b
: very painful or harmful
a severe wound
7
: requiring great effort : arduous
a severe test
8
: of a great degree
severe depression
severely
adverb
severeness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of severe in a Sentence
On Feb. 25 regulators laid out details on how they will run the "stress tests" that Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner has promised on the biggest banks. Now those tests, designed to judge whether the banks have the capital to keep lending and absorb losses in a severe recession, face an exam of their own.
—
Jane Sasseen et al., Business Week, 9 Mar. 2009
A study in February in the journal Lancet, for instance, compared treatments for severe ankle sprains, concluding that a below-the-knee cast is superior to a tubular compression bandage.
—Sharon Begley, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2009
Between 2000 and 2004 the number of Americans covered by Medicaid rose by a remarkable eight million. Over the same period the ranks of the uninsured rose by six million. So without the growth of Medicaid, the uninsured population would have exploded, and we'd be facing a severe crisis in medical care.
—Paul Krugman et al., New York Review of Books, 23 Mar. 2006
As several economists—most notably Jeffrey Williamson, of Harvard University—have written recently, international trade increased dramatically between 1850 and the First World War. Williamson goes on to point out that one consequence of this earlier period of globalization was that governments retreated into policies of severe trade and immigration restrictions.
—Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 10 May 1999
The storm caused severe damage to the roof.
The patient is in severe pain.
children with severe learning disabilities
In the most severe cases, the disease can lead to blindness.
He suffered a severe head injury.
He faces severe penalties for his actions.
The war was a severe test of his leadership.
Jane Sasseen et al., Business Week, 9 Mar. 2009
A study in February in the journal Lancet, for instance, compared treatments for severe ankle sprains, concluding that a below-the-knee cast is superior to a tubular compression bandage.
—Sharon Begley, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2009
Between 2000 and 2004 the number of Americans covered by Medicaid rose by a remarkable eight million. Over the same period the ranks of the uninsured rose by six million. So without the growth of Medicaid, the uninsured population would have exploded, and we'd be facing a severe crisis in medical care.
—Paul Krugman et al., New York Review of Books, 23 Mar. 2006
As several economists—most notably Jeffrey Williamson, of Harvard University—have written recently, international trade increased dramatically between 1850 and the First World War. Williamson goes on to point out that one consequence of this earlier period of globalization was that governments retreated into policies of severe trade and immigration restrictions.
—Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 10 May 1999
The storm caused severe damage to the roof.
The patient is in severe pain.
children with severe learning disabilities
In the most severe cases, the disease can lead to blindness.
He suffered a severe head injury.
He faces severe penalties for his actions.
The war was a severe test of his leadership.
Recent Examples on the Web
The ship and supplies granted to Williams could have conceivably been used to aid the war effort; the conflict had already left both Harvard and Massachusetts in severe financial straits.
—Yaakov Zinberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
The Supreme Court then dealt a severe blow to Smith’s plans for a spring trial by agreeing to take up a question of presidential immunity at the end of April.
—Sarah D. Wire, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Recent research on the quality of sleep in men reported that in the majority, there were sleep problems that ranged from mild to severe sleep disorders.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 4 Apr. 2024
The large storm system, which has walloped the nation with severe weather conditions since the weekend, spun up tornadoes in Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia this week, damaging businesses and leveling homes.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
In a sense, both of these estimates were true: only a few people have severe symptoms, but up to 90% of people do have mild symptoms before their period.
—Shalene Gupta, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
And shrimp production is also causing severe environmental damage, the report says.
—Alexandra Chaidez, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
Those babies who survive face severe risks tied to malnutrition.
—Lauren Weber, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Palestinians were transported into the hospital without arms and legs, the majority due to severe crush injuries amid Israel’s bombardment on Gaza following Hamas' attack on Oct. 7.
—Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024
Yaakov Zinberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
The Supreme Court then dealt a severe blow to Smith’s plans for a spring trial by agreeing to take up a question of presidential immunity at the end of April.
—Sarah D. Wire, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Recent research on the quality of sleep in men reported that in the majority, there were sleep problems that ranged from mild to severe sleep disorders.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 4 Apr. 2024
The large storm system, which has walloped the nation with severe weather conditions since the weekend, spun up tornadoes in Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia this week, damaging businesses and leveling homes.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
In a sense, both of these estimates were true: only a few people have severe symptoms, but up to 90% of people do have mild symptoms before their period.
—Shalene Gupta, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
And shrimp production is also causing severe environmental damage, the report says.
—Alexandra Chaidez, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
Those babies who survive face severe risks tied to malnutrition.
—Lauren Weber, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Palestinians were transported into the hospital without arms and legs, the majority due to severe crush injuries amid Israel’s bombardment on Gaza following Hamas' attack on Oct. 7.
—Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'severe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near severe
Cite this Entry
“Severe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/severe. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
severe
adjective
se·vere
sə-ˈvi(ə)r 
severer; severest
1
a
: strict in judgment, discipline, or government
a severe ruler
b
: serious in feeling or manner : grave
2
: not using unnecessary ornament : plain
a severe style
3
: inflicting pain, distress, or hardship
severe wounds
a severe winter
4
: requiring great effort
a severe test
severely
adverb
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