a. | 1. | Serious in feeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not light, lively, or cheerful. |
2. | Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous; | |
3. | Rigidly methodical, or adherent to rule or principle; exactly conformed to a standard; not allowing or employing unneccessary ornament, amplification, etc.; strict; - said of style, argument, etc. | |
4. | Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; | |
5. | Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; |
Adj. | 1. | severe - 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. | severe - very strong or vigorous; "strong winds"; "a hard left to the chin"; "a knockout punch"; "a severe blow" | |
3. | severe - severely simple; "a stark interior" | |
4. | severe - unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment; "a parent severe to the pitch of hostility"- H.G.Wells; "a hefty six-footer with a rather severe mien"; "a strict disciplinarian"; "a Spartan upbringing" | |
5. | severe - 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. | severe - very bad in degree or extent; "a severe worldwide depression"; "the house suffered severe damage" |