15
onerous(adjective, hard, tough, rough, difficult)
15
ruthless(adjective, appearance, mean, hard, tough)
15
unpleasant(adjective, hard, tough, difficult, harsh)
15
unsympathetic(adjective, person, mean, hard, tough)
14
inexorable(adjective, appearance, mean, strong, hard)
14
merciless(adjective, appearance, mean, hard, tough)
14
strong(adjective, hard, tough, intense, violent)
13
drastic(adjective, hard, tough, rough, difficult)
13
dreadful(adjective, wicked, painful, sickness, ache)
13
forbidding(adjective, appearance, strong, hard, tough)
13
hurtful(adjective, painful, sickness, ache, anguishes)
13
inclement(adjective, hard, cool, tough, keen)
13
raw(adjective, hard, cool, keen, sharp)
13
unadorned(adjective, characteristic, hard, simple, harsh)
13
unsparing(adjective, person, mean, strong, hard)
12
plain(adjective, characteristic, calm, clear, simple)
12
bleak(adjective, appearance, hard, cool, tough)
12
firm(noun, adjective, clear, strong, hard)
12
powerful(adjective, strong, sharp, harsh, intense)
12
savage(adjective, mean, hard, rough, harsh)
10 years ago|63k views|share |citing 
APASmart Define. (2016). severe thesaurus. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/severe/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "severe thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/severe/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 22, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, severe thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/severe/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "severe thesaurus" 24 March 2016. Web. 22 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/severe/thesaurus/synonyms>