SEVERE

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