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5 : of a great degree : SERIOUS <~ depression>

Synonyms

[1, 2] austere, authoritarian, flinty, hard, harsh, heavy-handed, ramrod, rigid, rigorous, stern, strict; also demanding, exacting; uncharitable, unforgiving; adamant, adamantine, hardened, immovable, implacable, inflexible, ossified, unbending, uncompromising, unyielding; dour, gruff; ascetic, monastic; browbeating, bullying; determined, firm, resolved, steadfast, unflinching; dogged, intractable, obstinate, relentless

Antonyms

forbearing, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant

[4] bitter, brutal, burdensome, cruel, excruciating, grievous, grim, hard, harsh, heavy, inhuman, murderous, onerous, oppressive, rough, rugged, stiff, tough, trying—more at HARSH

se·vere·ly adverb : in a severe manner : with severity

Synonyms

hard, hardly, harshly, ill, oppressively, roughly, sternly, stiffly—more at HARDLY

se·ver·i·ty noun : quality or state of being severe

Synonyms

hardness, harshness, inflexibility, rigidity, sternness, strictness; also implacability, obduracy; asceticism, austerity, monasticism; determination, firmness, resolve, steadfastness; obstinacy, stubbornness

Antonyms

gentleness, flexibility, laxness, mildness

sew verb sewed; sewn or sewed; sew·ing 1 : to unite or fasten by stitches

2 : to engage in sewing

sew·age noun : waste materials carried off by sewers

1sewer noun : one that sews

2sewer noun : an artificial pipe or channel to carry off waste matter

sew·er·age noun 1 : a system of sewers

2 : SEWAGE

sew·ing noun 1 : the activity of one who sews

2 : material that has been or is to be sewed

sex noun 1 : either of the two major forms that occur in many living things and are designated male or female according to their role in reproduction; also : the qualities by which these sexes are differentiated and which directly or indirectly function in reproduction involving two parents

2 a : sexual activity or behavior

b : physical sexual contact between individuals that involves the genitalia : SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

— sexed adjective

— sex·less adjective

sex·a·ge·nar·i·an noun : a person whose age is in the sixties

— sexagenarian adjective

sex appeal : personal appeal or physical attractiveness esp. for members of the opposite sex

sex cell noun : an egg cell or sperm cell

sex chromosome noun : one of usu. a pair of chromosomes that are usu. similar in one sex but different in the other sex and are concerned with the inheritance of sex

sex hormone noun : a steroid hormone (as estrogen or testosterone) that is produced esp. by the gonads or adrenal cortex and chiefly affects the growth or function of the reproductive organs

sex·ism noun : prejudice or discrimination based on sex; especially : discrimination against women

— sex·ist adjective or noun

sex·ol·o·gy noun : the study of sex or of the interactions of the sexes

— sex·ol·o·gist noun

sex·pot noun : a conspicuously sexy woman

sex symbol noun : a usu. renowned person (as an entertainer) noted and admired for conspicuous attractiveness

sex·tant noun [ORIGIN: NL sextant-, sextans sixth part of a circle, fr. L, sixth part, fr. sextus sixth]

: a navigational instrument for determining latitude

sex·tet noun 1 : a musical composition for six voices or instruments; also : the performers of such a composition

2 : a group or set of six

sex·ton noun : one who takes care of church property

sex·u·al adjective : of, relating to, or involving sex or the sexes <~ relations>

— sex·u·al·i·ty noun

— sex·u·al·ly adverb

sexual intercourse noun 1 : intercourse between a male and a female in which the penis is inserted into the vagina

2 : intercourse between individuals involving genital contact other than insertion of the penis into the vagina

Synonyms

copulation, intercourse; also fornication; safe sex; sexuality

sexually transmitted disease noun : a disease (as syphilis, gonorrhea, AIDS, or the genital form of herpes simplex) that is caused by a microorganism or virus usu. or