severe

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English Vietnamese dictionary

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Advanced English dictionary

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+ adjective (severer, severest)
very bad
1 extremely bad or serious: a severe handicap + His injuries are severe. + severe weather conditions + a severe winter (= one during which the weather conditions are extremely bad) + The party suffered severe losses during the last election. + a severe shortage of qualified staff + severe learning difficulties + The victim suffered severe brain damage. + a severe case of woodworm + Strikes are causing severe disruption to all train services.
punishment
2 ~ (on / with sb) punishing sb in an extreme way when they break a particular set of rules
Synonym: HARSH
The courts are becoming more severe on young offenders. + a severe punishment / sentence
not kind
3 not kind or sympathetic and showing disapproval of sb/sth: a severe look / expression + She was a severe woman who seldom smiled.
very difficult
4 extremely difficult and requiring a lot of skill or ability
Synonym: STIFF
The marathon is a severe test of stamina.
style / appearance / clothing
5 (disapproving) extremely plain and lacking any decoration: Modern furniture is a little too severe for my taste. + Her hair was short and severe.
severely adverb: severely disabled + areas severely affected by unemployment + Anyone breaking the law will be severely punished. + a severely critical report + Her hair was tied severely in a bun.
severity noun [U]: A prison sentence should match the severity of the crime. + The chances of a full recovery will depend on the severity of her injuries. + the severity of the problem + He frowned with mock severity. + The elaborate facade contrasts strongly with the severity of the interior.

Thesaurus dictionary

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adj.

1 strict, harsh, rigorous, austere, hard, stony, stony-hearted, hard-hearted, flinty, inexorable, iron-handed, oppressive, unbending, rigid, uncompromising, relentless, unyielding, obdurate, pitiless, punitive, merciless, unsympathetic, unfeeling, cruel, brutal, mean, savage, inhuman, beastly, ruthless, despotic, dictatorial, tyrannical, autocratic, demanding, exacting, painstaking, fastidious, exigent, taxing:

Nicholas Nickleby was subjected to extremely severe treatment at Dotheboys Hall. Mr Bradshaw was a severe taskmaster

2 stern, forbidding, dour, glowering, grave, grim, stiff, strait-laced, serious, unsmiling, sober, cold, frigid, aloof, austere:

If he so much as dropped a spoon the master would give Nicholas a severe look

3 dangerous, critical, dreadful, awful, life-threatening, acute, dire; mortal, fatal, terminal:

She has had a severe attack of the flu.

4 stringent, punitive, harsh, punishing, burdensome, tough, onerous, grievous, painful, Draconian or Draconic:

There are severe penalties for breaking the parking laws in this city

5 harsh, bitter, cold, inclement, keen, violent, stormy, intense, turbulent, fierce, wicked:

Granny couldn't live through another severe winter at Fort William.

6 stark, bare, plain, austere, Spartan, ascetic, primitive, simple, sparse, spare, monastic, modest, unadorned, unembellished, crude, undecorated, unembroidered:

The severe décor in the servants' quarters gave the appearance of a prison.

Collocation dictionary

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VERBS

be, seem, sound | become | remain

ADV.

especially, exceptionally, extremely, particularly, really, unusually, very

an exceptionally severe frost

| increasingly | fairly, moderately, quite, relatively

women affected by mild to moderately severe symptoms

| enough, sufficiently

Cases of plant poisoning severe enough to warrant hospital admission are rare.

Concise English dictionary

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severer|severestsɪ'vɪr /-'vɪə
adj.
+intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
+very strong or vigorous
+severely simple
+unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment
+causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
+very bad in degree or extent