# severe

> English word · Adjective · IPA /sɪˈvɪə/ · frequency rank #2,701

## Definitions
1. Very bad or intense.
2. Strict or harsh.
3. Sober, plain in appearance, austere.

## Etymology
From Middle French, from Latin severus (“severe, serious, grave in demeanor”).

## Easily confused with
- **sewer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/severe-vs-sewer)
- **sphere** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/severe-vs-sphere)
- **Severn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/severe-vs-severn)
- **severed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/severe-vs-severed)
- **severely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/severe-vs-severely)
- **seer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/seer-vs-severe)
- **seven** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/seven-vs-severe)
- **saver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/saver-vs-severe)
- **sever** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sever-vs-severe)
- **secure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/secure-vs-severe)
- **server** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/server-vs-severe)
- **serene** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/serene-vs-severe)
- **secede** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/secede-vs-severe)
- **several** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/several-vs-severe)

## Common misspellings (8)
`esvere`, `seevre`, `seveer`, `severre`, `sevree`, `sevvere`, `ssevere`, `sveere`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/severe