sévères

Sévères is the plural form of the French adjective sévère, used to describe things or people that are strict, harsh, or serious. It agrees with plural nouns, and because both masculine and feminine nouns in the plural take the same form, sévères can modify either gender in the plural. The singular form is sévère, shared by masculine and feminine. The adjective derives from Latin severus, passing into Old French and then modern French.

In usage, sévères appears before a noun or after some verbs when describing qualities. Common collocations include mesures sévères (severe measures), sanctions sévères (severe sanctions), conditions sévères (severe conditions), and critiques sévères (severe criticisms). It can modify abstract concepts as well, such as conséquences sévères (severe consequences) or exigences sévères (stringent requirements). The term conveys gravity and formality and is frequent in journalism, law, policy, education, and literary prose.

Nuances and synonyms: sévères carries a stronger sense of harshness or rigor than many milder descriptors. Synonyms include strict, rigoureux, dur, or austère, each with its own shade of meaning. Antonyms such as clément, indulgent, or léger describe less harsh conditions or judgments. The use of sévères can be intensified with très or extrêmement, as in très sévères or extrêmement sévères, to emphasize the degree of severity.

Notes: like other French adjectives, sévères agrees with the noun it modifies in number, and its form does not distinguish gender in the plural. It remains a descriptive term rather than a fixed proper noun.