WordWeb Online

1. Intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
   "severe pain"; "a severe case of flu"
   - terrible, wicked
    
2. Very strong or vigorous
   "a severe blow"
   - hard, knockout
    
3. Severely simple
   - austere, stark, stern
    
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"
   - spartan
    
5. Causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
   "a severe case of pneumonia"
   - dangerous, grave, grievous, serious, life-threatening
    
6. Very bad in degree or extent
   "a severe worldwide depression"; "the house suffered severe damage"

Derived forms: severer, severest

See also: bad, critical, intense, nonindulgent, plain, severely, severeness, strict, strong

Encyclopedia: Severe