Severe Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/sɪˈvɪər/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Adjective

Definition

Extremely bad or unpleasant; serious or critical in degree or amount; causing great harm or damage.

Examples

• The severe weather warning was issued for the entire region.
• The patient’s condition was severe and required immediate attention.

Synonyms

• Extreme
• Harsh
• Critical

Antonyms

• Mild
• Minor
• Trivial

Additional Information

Severe can be used to describe a wide range of situations, from weather conditions to medical conditions. It is often used to convey a sense of urgency or importance. In some cases, severe can also be used to describe a person’s behavior or attitude, such as a severe critic or a severe taskmaster.

Severe is often used in formal or technical contexts, such as in medical or scientific writing. However, it can also be used in informal contexts, such as in everyday conversation or in news headlines.

It’s worth noting that severe can have different connotations depending on the context in which it is used. For example, a severe storm might be seen as a serious threat, while a severe critic might be seen as overly harsh or unfair.

Etymology

The word severe comes from the Latin word “severus,” which means “stern” or “strict.” It has been used in English since the 15th century to describe things that are serious or critical.

Usage Notes

Severe is often used to describe situations that are extreme or critical. It can be used to convey a sense of urgency or importance, and is often used in formal or technical contexts.

However, severe can also be used in informal contexts, such as in everyday conversation or in news headlines. In these cases, it is often used to add emphasis or to convey a sense of drama.

Cultural References

Severe has been used in a number of cultural references, including in music and film. For example, the band Severe Tire Damage was a popular punk rock band in the 1990s.

In film, severe has been used to describe a number of characters and situations. For example, the character of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series is known for his severe demeanor and strict teaching style.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Severe is often used in idiomatic expressions or phrases, such as “severe weather warning” or “severe criticism.” It can also be used in phrases such as “severe consequences” or “severe repercussions.”

Related Words or Phrases

Severe is related to a number of other words and phrases, including “extreme,” “harsh,” and “critical.” It can also be used in conjunction with other words to create phrases such as “severe and critical” or “severe and extreme.”

CollocationsSevere is often used in collocations such as “severe weather,” “severe illness,” or “severe injury.” It can also be used in phrases such as “severe consequences” or “severe repercussions.”

Frequency of Use

Severe is a relatively common word in modern language, and is often used in formal and informal contexts. According to the Corpus of Contemporary American English, severe is used approximately 1.5 times per million words.

Common Misspellings

Severe is often misspelled as “sever” or “sevire.” It can also be misspelled as “severly” or “severley.”