severe

IPA/sɪˈvɪə(r)/
KK[səvˈɪr]IPA/sɪˈvɪr/

severe — adjective

  • severepositive
  • more severecomparative
  • most severesuperlative

1. describes something harmful, dangerous, or unpleasant that happens or exists to

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

describes something harmful, dangerous, or unpleasant that happens or exists to a very great degree — such as a storm that destroys buildings, a disease that threatens someone's life, or a crisis that affects an entire country

Example

The typhoon was so severe that it tore the roofs off dozens of houses.

collocation: severe [extreme weather event]

After falling from her bicycle, Rachel felt severe pain in her right wrist.

collocation: severe pain

Common collocations
  • severe weather
  • severe pain
  • severe injury
  • severe illness
  • severe storm
  • severe damage
  • severe shortage
  • severe recession
Synonyms
  • serious

    broader and more neutral; a serious problem may not be as intense as a severe one

  • intense

    focuses on the strength or force of something rather than the harm it causes

  • critical

    adds urgency and the idea that something could become dangerous very soon

Antonyms
  • mild

    refers to a low degree of harm or intensity, opposite of severe in medical and weather contexts

  • minor

    describes something small or unimportant, not causing serious harm

Grammar Patterns

severe + noun (storm/pain/illness/damage/shortage)

subject + be + severe

Usage Note

Commonly modifies nouns describing natural events (storm, drought, earthquake), medical conditions (pain, injury, infection, illness), or abstract problems (shortage, crisis, recession). This is the most frequent use of the word.

Common Mistakes

The weather was severely today.
The weather was severe today.
Severe is an adjective; severely is the adverb form.
He had a strong storm.' (when meaning powerful/damaging).
He had a severe storm.
Strong describes physical force; severe describes the harmful degree.

2. needing a lot of effort, ability, or determination to deal with — used about phy

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

needing a lot of effort, ability, or determination to deal with — used about physical challenges, intellectual tasks, or demanding situations that push a person to their limits

Example

The final round of the competition was a severe test of the team's fitness.

collocation: severe test

Vivek found the advanced mathematics course too severe for his current skill level.

severe for + noun phrase describing the person

Common collocations
  • severe test
  • severe challenge
  • severe competition
  • severe exam
Synonyms
  • demanding

    emphasizes the effort required; sounds more neutral than severe

  • strenuous

    used mainly for physical effort and activity

  • arduous

    formal; describes something that is long, tiring, and difficult

Antonyms
  • easy

    describes something that requires little effort

  • simple

    describes something that is not complicated or demanding

Grammar Patterns

severe + noun (test/challenge/competition/exam)

subject + be + severe

Usage Note

Frequently modifies nouns like test, challenge, competition, or exam when describing something that demands great effort or skill. Unlike sense 1, this sense is not used for physical harm or damage.

Common Mistakes

This crossword puzzle is severe.
This crossword puzzle is extremely difficult.
Severe is typically reserved for significant challenges, not everyday puzzles.
It was a severe problem to solve.' (vague).
It was a severe test of the team's problem-solving skills.
Pair severe with a noun that names the type of challenge.

3. showing a strict and unsympathetic attitude toward other people — making very hi

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

showing a strict and unsympathetic attitude toward other people — making very high demands, giving strong criticism, or applying harsh punishments without leniency

Example

Judge Okonkwo gave the young offender a severe warning about the consequences of stealing.

collocation: severe warning

Paloma's parents were severe with her about completing homework before watching television.

grammar: be severe with [someone] about [something]

Common collocations
  • severe criticism
  • severe punishment
  • severe sentence
  • severe warning
  • severe with someone
  • severe expression
  • severe look
Antonyms
  • lenient

    describes someone who is permissive and not strict in judgment or punishment

  • gentle

    describes someone who is kind and soft, the opposite of harsh in manner

Grammar Patterns

severe + noun (criticism/punishment/warning/sentence/expression)

be severe with + noun phrase

Usage Note

Describes a person's character, facial expression, criticism, rules, or punishment. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 focuses on someone's strict attitude or behavior toward others, not the high degree of a negative event.

4. having a deliberately plain and simple appearance with no ornaments, patterns, o

4.adjectiveC1
Definition

having a deliberately plain and simple appearance with no ornaments, patterns, or colourful details — used especially to describe clothing, hairstyles, architecture, or design that avoids decoration for a sober effect

Example

Salma wore a severe black suit with no jewellery or makeup to the interview.

collocation: severe [clothing style]

The architect designed the house with severe concrete walls and bare wooden floors.

collocation: severe [architectural style]

Common collocations
  • severe style
  • severe suit
  • severe haircut
  • severe architecture
  • severe lines
  • severe decor
Synonyms
  • plain

    more common and less formal; may simply mean ordinary rather than deliberately simple

  • simple

    broad term; emphasises lack of complexity rather than lack of ornament

  • austere

    formal; suggests a strict, almost deliberately uncomfortable simplicity

Antonyms
  • ornate

    describes something with a lot of decoration and detail, the visual opposite of severe

  • decorative

    describes something intended to be ornamental rather than plain

Grammar Patterns

severe + noun (style/suit/hairstyle/architecture/makeup)

subject + be + severe

Usage Note

Typically used in formal or literary contexts. The nouns modified usually relate to appearance — clothing, hairstyles, architecture, interior design, or art. This sense has a neutral-to-positive connotation in design criticism, suggesting discipline and restraint rather than coldness.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Severe, serious, critical, intense, and harsh all describe negative situations, but each focuses on a different aspect. Severe emphasizes the high degree of harm or suffering — a severe storm causes great damage, while a serious storm is simply not trivial. Critical adds urgency and implies immediate danger — a critical patient could die without urgent care. Intense zeroes in on the strength or force of something (intense heat, intense concentration) rather than the harm it causes. Harsh overlaps with severe when describing unpleasant conditions (harsh weather, harsh criticism), but harsh carries a stronger feeling of cruelty or discomfort. In everyday English, serious is the broadest and most neutral choice. Use severe when you want to stress the extreme degree of a negative situation, especially with medical conditions, natural disasters, or economic problems. For example: doctors describe a heart condition as 'severe' not just 'serious'; a drought is called 'severe' when it causes major damage, not just dry conditions.

serious ↗critical ↗intense ↗harsh ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • severity

Adverbs

  • severely
  • extremely severe
  • increasingly severe
  • less severe

Phrases

  • take a severe view of something

Prepositions

  • with (sense 3 only: severe with someone)

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Severe entered English in the mid-1500s from French 'sévère', which came from Latin 'severus', meaning 'serious, strict, or austere'. The Latin root may be related to 'serius' (serious) and suggests a sense of gravity or strictness that has carried through all the modern meanings — from a severe illness (serious and dangerous) to a severe hairstyle (strictly plain with no fuss).