Synonyms for severe

acute, austere, bitter, brutal, critical, dire, drastic, extreme, forceful, grave, grievous, hard, harsh, heavy, intense, intensive, over-exacting, overstrict, profound, punishing, puritanical, repressive, rigorous, rough, scathing, serious, sharp, spartan, stark, stern, strait-laced, strict, stringent, tough, unmerciful, violent, vituperative