severe

adjective

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se·vere | \ sə-ˈvir

severer; severest

Definition of severe

1a : 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

4a : 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

6a : 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

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Choose the Right Synonym for severe

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 military discipline stern stresses inflexibility and inexorability of temper or character. stern arbiters of public morality austere stresses absence of warmth, color, or feeling and may apply to rigorous restraint, simplicity, or self-denial. living an austere life in the country ascetic implies abstention from pleasure and comfort or self-indulgence as spiritual discipline. the ascetic life of the monks

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.

Recent Examples on the Web Even if complications are statistically rare in young adults, a disproportionately large number of infections in that group -- perhaps because of more carefree behavior -- could lead to more frequent reports of severe illness. — Arman Azad And Minali Nigam, CNN, "Yes, young adults are sick and spreading coronavirus -- but they can help stop it," 20 Mar. 2020 Older adults, 65 years and older, are among the group at highest risk for severe illness, according to the CDC. — Sonia Ramirez, Houston Chronicle, "Hilarious Twitter reactions to stubborn parents not heeding coronavirus advice," 20 Mar. 2020 One will focus on patients with moderate illness, and the other will focus on patients with a severe illness that could require intensive care. — Emily Bamforth, cleveland, "University Hospitals will be one of first in nation to test coronavirus anti-viral drug," 20 Mar. 2020 But severe illness can occur, especially in the elderly and people with existing health problems. — NBC News, "New Africa coronavirus crisis looms with internal spread," 20 Mar. 2020 Now, when additional government spending may be needed in the short term, the long-term consequences could be severe. — Michael Tanner, National Review, "Big Government Has Hurt Our Ability to Deal with This Crisis," 18 Mar. 2020 Symptoms of coronavirus include mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and shortness of breath that appear anywhere between two to 14 days after exposure. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, "36 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Alabama: 20 in Jefferson; Madison, St. Clair report 1st cases," 17 Mar. 2020 The virus can cause severe illness and pneumonia — especially among vulnerable populations such as seniors and those with underlying health conditions — and a vaccine is a long way off. — Ricardo Torres, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "From shopping to child care, Wisconsinites brace for altered daily life amid the coronavirus pandemic," 14 Mar. 2020 And because of the severity of this virus in older adults, this would cause substantial severe illness and death. — Aubree Gordon, The Conversation, "Coronavirus, kids and school closings: A public health expert answers 4 questions," 13 Mar. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'severe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.