Adjective
1
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
"severe pain"
"a severe case of flu"
"a terrible cough"
"under wicked fire from the enemy's guns"
"a wicked cough"
2
very strong or vigorous
"strong winds"
"a hard left to the chin"
"a knockout punch"
"a severe blow"
3
severely simple
"a stark interior"
4
unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment
"a parent severe to the pitch of hostility"
"a hefty six-footer with a rather severe mien"
"a strict disciplinarian"
"a Spartan upbringing"
5
causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
"a dangerous operation"
"a grave situation"
"a grave illness"
"grievous bodily harm"
"a serious wound"
"a serious turn of events"
"a severe case of pneumonia"
"a life-threatening disease"
6
very bad in degree or extent
"a severe worldwide depression"
"the house suffered severe damage"
7
Very bad or intense.
"The severe thunderstorm brought down trees and left the entire neighborhood without power for hours."
In plain English: Severe means something is very bad, serious, or intense.
"The severe storm caused power outages across the entire city."
Proper Noun
1
A surname.
"The new headmaster, Mr. Severe, was rumored to be quite strict about attendance policies."
Example Sentences
"The severe storm caused power outages across the entire city."
adj
Related Terms
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Origin
The word severe entered English from Middle French and originally comes from the Latin severus, which meant "serious" or "grave." Its meaning has remained consistent since it first arrived in our language.