| noun | used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather |
| noun | something hard to endure “the asperity of northern winters” |
| noun | extreme plainness |
| noun | excessive sternness “severity of character” |
| bad | adjective | feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough' is occasionally used colloquially for `bad') |
| severe | adjective | very bad in degree or extent |
| grim | adjective | not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty |
| austere | adjective | severely simple |
| harsh | adjective | unpleasantly stern |
| rigorous | adjective | demanding strict attention to rules and procedures |
| inclement | adjective | used of persons or behavior; showing no clemency or mercy |
| hard | adjective | unfortunate or hard to bear |