1
as in harsh
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a severe, uncompromising teacher who locked the classroom door precisely when the bell rang and let no one in afterward
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fierce
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
clergymen who dressed in severe clothing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in serious
not joking or playful in mood or manner
the judge maintained a severe expression throughout the trial
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in tough
difficult to endure
a severe winter that was among the coldest on record
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
a severe test of courage
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of severe
In July, a severe lightning storm headed toward the Great South Bay Music Festival on Long Island kept at least 1,500 customers away during its reggae night, featuring Stephen and Damian Marley.
—
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
The condition's most severe symptoms are sensitivities to spices, salt, and sweets, which means there's no reason to worry about a geographic tongue diagnosis.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
One survivor has irreversible neurological damage doctors linked to insulin, and another developed severe scoliosis after a potassium injection in the back.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Nearly a decade later, a Costa Rican woman had a severe brain hemorrhage cured.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for severe
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
The condition's most severe symptoms are sensitivities to spices, salt, and sweets, which means there's no reason to worry about a geographic tongue diagnosis.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
One survivor has irreversible neurological damage doctors linked to insulin, and another developed severe scoliosis after a potassium injection in the back.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Nearly a decade later, a Costa Rican woman had a severe brain hemorrhage cured.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for severe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severe
Adjective
-
The once-beloved pastels will become harsh.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The pilgrimage, listed on the official calendar of jubilee events, comes as gay Catholics look to Pope Leo XIV to continue down the bold path of his predecessor to welcome into the church a group that has in the past faced alienation and sometimes harsh treatment.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The decision is the latest development in a fierce legal battle over the fate of over 600,000 Venezuelans living in the United States under Temporary Protected Status, which shields them from deportation to their homeland in turmoil and grants them the ability to work.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
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Especially in areas like the fintech world, where competition is extra fierce.—
Eugenia Mykuliak,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Thankfully, the most recent accident was less serious, and Sabrina and their unborn child were ultimately okay.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Between them, Sinner and Alcaraz have dispatched their only serious rival in three straight majors, largely making every other match at these tournaments feel almost immaterial.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s a tough dichotomy to bridge, but the new 2025 911 Carrera GTS achieves it brilliantly.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The tough stainless steel loops are reinforced and designed to remain rust-free even after years of use, and a three number combination lock will be easy to remember and difficult to crack.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Auburn, of the big, bad SEC, rolls into a difficult environment at Baylor – with the entire college football world watching the primetime game – and blows a tire against a wildly underrated Big 12 team.—
Matt Hayes,
The Tennessean,
30 Aug. 2025
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Keeping the festival free each year is an increasingly difficult task, but a rewarding effort, said Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation (DJFF) president and artistic director Chris Collins.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Neville said he's noticed many boutique and family-run hotels, especially in high-demand spots like Dubrovnik, Prague, and Santorini, booking out earlier than ever, requiring full deposits up front, and enforcing strict cancellation policies.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Jackets, ties, nylons and shoulder pads made a comeback, all in strict adherence to a dress code that hadn't been revised in decades.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Landon was also famous for his double act with Victor French who played the gruff outdoor-living Isaiah Edwards in Little House.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
The new film from the husband-and-lesbian-wife duo Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke features Margaret Qualley playing gay (again) as the titular detective Honey, with Aubrey Plaza co-starring as a gruff cop who is the object of her affections.—
James Factora,
Them.,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Perhaps that should be a solemn oath for all AI makers.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
At any rate, those are the types of academics who populate After the Hunt, Luca Guadagnino’s cartoonishly solemn drama, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Severe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severe. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
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