"severest" in the adjective sense
1. severe, terrible, wicked
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
"severe pain"
"a severe case of flu"
"a terrible cough"
"under wicked fire from the enemy's guns"
"a wicked cough"
2. hard, knockout, severe
very strong or vigorous
"strong winds"
"a hard left to the chin"
"a knockout punch"
"a severe blow"
3. austere, severe, stark, stern
severely simple
"a stark interior"
4. severe, spartan
unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment
"a parent severe to the pitch of hostility"- H.G.Wells
"a hefty six-footer with a rather severe mien"
"a strict disciplinarian"
"a Spartan upbringing"
5. dangerous, grave, grievous, serious, severe, life-threatening
causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
"a dangerous operation"
"a grave situation"
"a grave illness"
"grievous bodily harm"
"a serious wound"
"a serious turn of events"
"a severe case of pneumonia"
"a life-threatening disease"
6. severe
very bad in degree or extent
"a severe worldwide depression"
"the house suffered severe damage"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
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