severe
65
4.2
- adjective
- /sɪˈvɪr/
- To refuse is to invite severe punishment or death.
- a severe punishment
- severe penalties
- severe criticism
Loading YouTube…
Watch on YouTubeThat's how severe the forfeiture part of that statute is.
- That's how severe the forfeiture part of that statute is.
- Both were subject to severe punishment and violence, mental, physical and sexual.
- It's like this continuum that justifies more severe violence or more severe incarceration or more severe punishment.
- I guess maybe just seems so severe, like so harsh for life.
- And that's why I keep hearing you said you're willing to severe discipline.
Examples
-
His research interests involve children and adolescents with severe behavior difficulties and their family interactions.
Academic text (2011) -
When they did occur, the punishment doled out was severe... ...and, in some cases, final.
-
I was too severe with him.
-
Any attempt to alert the authorities of our operations will result in severe consequences.
-
The way in which judgment is received is a severe test of character.
Academic text (2017) -
Let me remind you that the penalty for selling army goods to the local population is quite severe.
-
If any student is found guilty of indiscipline... severe measures will be taken against him.
-
Non-compliance will be met with severe penalty.
-
Breach of this regulation will result in severe disciplinary action.
-
The teacher's evaluation was severe, leaving no room for excuses.
Synonyms
371
3.2
Not allowing any exceptions and requiring rules to be followed exactly
296
2.8
Unkind and too strict in what someone says or does to others
85
4.2
Harsh critical words or actions that hurt others
64
4.3
Serious and strict, not willing to change
35
6.9
Very strict rules or limits that must be followed
27
8.9
Very harsh actions or rules that cause great difficulty
27
6.3
Using too much force or strict control when dealing with people
26
4.1
Very direct and harsh in a way that can hurt people
20
6.5
Showing little concern for other people's feelings
11
7.7
Very simple and lacking comfort or luxury
7
9.3
Very strict and demanding about rules or work
2
7.1
Saying harsh words to criticize someone or something
2
7.9
Very harsh and not forgiving when criticizing or acting
1
9.1
Very severe, especially for laws and punishments
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
1
5.3
A serious breathing disease causing fever, cough and trouble breathing that can lead to death
- Specialized
1
8.4
A rare inherited illness that makes the body's defence against infections very weak
- Specialized
1
8.0
A rare condition passed from parents that makes babies unable to fight infections and often deadly without treatment
How Harsh
Surface Forms
Etymology
Severe comes from the Latin severus, meaning 'strict' or 'serious'. That's why a severe person or punishment is very strict and shows little kindness.