Severe vs. Extreme — What's the Difference?

(of something bad or undesirable) very great; intense

Most remote in any direction; outermost or farthest

(of punishment of a person) strict or harsh

Being in or attaining the greatest or highest degree; very intense

Very plain in style or appearance

Being far beyond the norm

Unsparing, harsh, or strict, as in treatment of others

Of the greatest severity; drastic

Marked by or requiring strict adherence to rigorous standards or high principles

Characterized by severe, usually oxygen-poor environmental conditions.

Stern or forbidding, as in manner or appearance

Having an affinity for such conditions

Extremely plain in substance or style

Very dangerous or difficult

Causing great discomfort, damage, or distress

Participating or tending to participate in a very dangerous or difficult sport

Very dangerous or harmful; grave or grievous

(Archaic) Final; last.

Extremely difficult to perform or endure; trying

The greatest or utmost degree or point.

Very bad or intense.

Either of the two things situated at opposite ends of a range

Strict or harsh.

An extreme condition.

Sober, plain in appearance, austere.

An immoderate, drastic expedient

Serious in feeling or manner; sedate; grave; austere; not light, lively, or cheerful.

The first or last term of a ratio or a series.

Very strict in judgment, discipline, or government; harsh; not mild or indulgent; rigorous; as, severe criticism; severe punishment.

A maximum or minimum value of a function.

Rigidly methodical, or adherent to rule or principle; exactly conformed to a standard; not allowing or employing unneccessary ornament, amplification, etc.; strict; - said of style, argument, etc.

(Logic) The major or minor term of a syllogism.

Sharp; afflictive; distressing; violent; extreme; as, severe pain, anguish, fortune; severe cold.

Of a place, the most remote, farthest or outermost.

Difficult to be endured; exact; critical; rigorous; as, a severe test.

In the greatest or highest degree; intense.

Intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality;

Excessive, or far beyond the norm.

Very strong or vigorous;

Drastic, or of great severity.

Severely simple;

Of sports, difficult or dangerous; performed in a hazardous environment.

Unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment;

(archaic) Ultimate, final or last.

Causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm;

The greatest or utmost point, degree or condition.

Very bad in degree or extent;

Each of the things at opposite ends of a range or scale.

One of the last moments of life.

A drastic expedient.

Hardships, straits.

(mathematics) Either of the two numbers at the ends of a proportion, as 1 and 6 in 1:2=3:6.

(archaic) Extremely.

At the utmost point, edge, or border; outermost; utmost; farthest; most remote; at the widest limit.

Last; final; conclusive; - said of time; as, the extreme hour of life.

The best of worst; most urgent; greatest; highest; immoderate; excessive; most violent; as, an extreme case; extreme folly.

Radical; ultra; as, extreme opinions.

Extended or contracted as much as possible; - said of intervals; as, an extreme sharp second; an extreme flat forth.

The utmost point or verge; that part which terminates a body; extremity.

Utmost limit or degree that is supposable or tolerable; hence, furthest degree; any undue departure from the mean; - often in the plural: things at an extreme distance from each other, the most widely different states, etc.; as, extremes of heat and cold, of virtue and vice; extremes meet.

An extreme state or condition; hence, calamity, danger, distress, etc.

Either of the extreme terms of a syllogism, the middle term being interposed between them.

The first or the last term of a proportion or series.

The furthest or highest degree of something;

The point located farthest from the middle of something

Of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity;

Far beyond a norm in quantity or amount or degree; to an utmost degree;

Beyond a norm in views or actions;

Most distant in any direction;