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⇱ severely - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

severely

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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
se•vere /səˈvɪr/USA pronunciation   adj., -ver•er, -ver•est. 
  1. harsh; unnecessarily extreme:severe criticism.
  2. stern in manner or appearance:Her hair was tied in a tight, severe bun.
  3. plain;
    without much decoration.
  4. grave;
    critical:a severe illness.
  5. of an extreme or violent nature:severe thunderstorms.
  6. difficult to endure, perform, etc.:a severe test of strength.
  7. very exact;
    demanding:severe standards.
se•vere•ly, adv. 
se•ver•i•ty /səˈvɛrɪti/USA pronunciation  n. [uncountable]the severity of his condition.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
se•vere  (sə vēr′),USA pronunciation adj., -ver•er, -ver•est. 
  1. harsh;
    unnecessarily extreme:severe criticism; severe laws.
  2. serious or stern in manner or appearance:a severe face.
  3. grave;
    critical:a severe illness.
  4. rigidly restrained in style, taste, manner, etc.;
    simple, plain, or austere.
  5. causing discomfort or distress by extreme character or conditions, as weather, cold, or heat;
    unpleasantly violent, as rain or wind, or a blow or shock.
  6. difficult to endure, perform, fulfill, etc.:a severe test of his powers.
  7. rigidly exact, accurate, or methodical:severe standards.
  • Latin sevērus, or back formation from severity
  • 1540–50
se•vere′ly, adv. 
se•vere′ness, n. 
    2. strict, hard. See stern 1. 4. unadorned. 7. demanding, exacting.
    1. lenient. 2. gentle.
'severely' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "severely" in the title:

abruptly rising the temperature severely
adverb choice: lose his hair severely
Antonym for 'badly/severely injured'
But officers confirmed that he <was><had been> severely injured...
but they were much more severely
Can I use "seriously" as a substitute for "severely" in my sentence?
get it (idiom) - be punished severely
greater affected/severely affected
He might have been killed; <but> as it is he was severely injured.
Once people ingest the death cap mushroom, six hours later they become severely ill.
Other women’s husbands you let severely alone
Punished severely or severely punished?
putting his back under severe strain/putting severe strain on/ severely straining.
Russia has been "severely embarrassed" by Ukrainian advances
severely distilled potential
Severely tested
severely underdeveloped
Suffered severely
The monopoly...has been perforated severely
to punish severely

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