Synonyms for severe

Synonyms for (adj) severe

Synonyms: dangerous, grave, grievous, life-threatening, serious, severe

Definition: causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm

Usage: a dangerous operation; a grave situation; a grave illness; grievous bodily harm; a serious wound; a serious turn of events; a severe case of pneumonia; a life-threatening disease

Similar words: critical

Definition: being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency

Usage: a critical shortage of food; a critical illness; an illness at the critical stage


Synonyms: severe

Definition: very bad in degree or extent

Usage: a severe worldwide depression; the house suffered severe damage

Similar words: bad

Definition: having undesirable or negative qualities

Usage: a bad report card; his sloppy appearance made a bad impression; a bad little boy; clothes in bad shape; a bad cut; bad luck; the news was very bad; the reviews were bad; the pay is bad; it was a bad light for reading; the movie was a bad choice


Synonyms: severe, spartan

Definition: unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment

Usage: a parent severe to the pitch of hostility- H.G.Wells; a hefty six-footer with a rather severe mien; a strict disciplinarian; a Spartan upbringing

Similar words: nonindulgent, strict

Definition: characterized by strictness, severity, or restraint


Synonyms: severe, terrible, wicked

Definition: intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality

Usage: severe pain; a severe case of flu; a terrible cough; under wicked fire from the enemy's guns; a wicked cough

Similar words: intense

Definition: possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree

Usage: intense heat; intense anxiety; intense desire; intense emotion; the skunk's intense acrid odor; intense pain; enemy fire was intense


Synonyms: stern, austere, stark, severe

Definition: severely simple

Usage: a stark interior

Similar words: plain

Definition: not elaborate or elaborated; simple

Usage: plain food; stuck to the plain facts; a plain blue suit; a plain rectangular brick building


Synonyms: knockout, hard, severe

Definition: very strong or vigorous

Usage: strong winds; a hard left to the chin; a knockout punch; a severe blow

Similar words: strong

Definition: having strength or power greater than average or expected

Usage: a strong radio signal; strong medicine; a strong man


Visual thesaurus for severe