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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fierce
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
clergymen who dressed in severe clothing
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
a severe test of courage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of severe
In one instance, Langan performed a medical procedure involving a stomach tube that caused a patient to suffer severe complications including choking, vomiting, loss of consciousness and aspiration pneumonia.
—
Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2026
Despite a severe slump in the value of hotels, office buildings and apartment properties in the East Bay and elsewhere in the Bay Area, the region’s industrial and manufacturing hubs still fetch sturdy prices.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
The forecast shows the Kansas City area is safe from severe weather, and flooding is not expected.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Suffered severe anxiety and depression.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for severe
Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2026
Despite a severe slump in the value of hotels, office buildings and apartment properties in the East Bay and elsewhere in the Bay Area, the region’s industrial and manufacturing hubs still fetch sturdy prices.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
The forecast shows the Kansas City area is safe from severe weather, and flooding is not expected.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Suffered severe anxiety and depression.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for severe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severe
Adjective
-
The table tells a harsher story.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
The girls’ mother, who traveled to appear in court Thursday with Doe 8, called for a harsh punishment and described how O’Connor, once in Idaho, helped sneak out Doe 8 to see her son, at one point provided them a hotel room.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Defending winner Ross Chastain is returning to compete against fierce contenders like Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
-
Lander, a former comptroller and mayoral candidate, was once a more vocal supporter of Israel and a fierce opponent of the boycott Israel movement, including during a previous contentious fight over Israel at the co-op in 2012.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
And that came in the guise of a serious illness that threatens — but then ends up solidifying — the unbreakable bond between Deborah (Jean Smart) and her protégé, Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), something that has been built up over the course of five seasons.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
29 May 2026
-
This is caused by a variety of factors, some more serious than others.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Management has partly attributed the membership slowdown to tougher comparisons from a year earlier, but there’s more to the story.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
-
The California Assembly on Thursday overwhelming voted in favor of a bill that would prohibit children under 16 years old from having a social media account, setting up what is likely to continue to be a tough battle over the coming months.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Building the program had proved difficult.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
Sindcom 14-Piece Food Storage Containers Set The pantry is one of the most difficult places to organize thanks to boxes of cereal, pasta, baking ingredients, and more scattered about.—
Kelsey Fredricks,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Top oil-consuming countries have been releasing reserves to help offset shortfalls while other countries have enacted strict rationing policies.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
-
Guardiola worked hard in those first months to establish a close bond between the players, implementing strict rules designed to ensure certain behaviours became second-nature.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
Her ex, Karl (Jake Johnson, impressively devoid of his signature gruff charm), wants to move their adorable daughter, Hazel (Nola Wallace), from New York to Boise with his new partner, Mallory (Jessy Hodges), a polished grown-up who makes the bohemian Paula feel like a mess.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 May 2026
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But the grizzled former Man in Black and man-who-failed-to-ground-Maverick isn’t known for playing the type of gruff ol’ cowpoke who’s about to break into song.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
In the Midwest, the solemn reason for the day shares space with graduations and trips north to open up cabins, not to mention forays into gardening and house cleaning.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2026
-
The internet personality first revealed in a solemn TikTok that she and Hawken, 28, were getting divorced in February, sharing that the split was amicable.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Severe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severe. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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