harsh; unnecessarily extreme

severe criticism; severe laws.

serious or stern in manner or appearance

a severe face.

grave; critical

a severe illness.

rigidly restrained in style, taste, manner, etc.; simple, plain, or austere.

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.

difficult to endure, perform, fulfill, etc.

a severe test of his powers.

rigidly exact, accurate, or methodical

severe standards.

adverb

compassionately , lightly

adverb

acutely , badly , critically , dangerously , extremely , firmly , gravely , hard , hardly , intensely , markedly , painfully , rigorously , roughly , seriously , sharply , sorely , sternly , strictly , with an iron hand