a severe look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe look" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's facial expression that conveys seriousness, sternness, or disapproval. Example: "When she entered the room, he gave her a severe look that made her feel uneasy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"What your mother means," he said, shooting me a severe look, "is that we're going to have to come up with a new plan, a financial strategy for paying for college that we all can live with".

The New York Times

25th over: India 136-1 (Gambhir 30, Rahane 63) chasing 299 "I still cannot believe this about Hawkeye and that the broadcasters are allowing themselves to be bullied, the BCCI needs to have a severe look at itself," says James Himsworth.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

After giving his par putt a severe looking over, Woods eventually rolls it in.

The Guardian - Sport

"We saw that his finger fell off and we saw a severe looking ulcer and sores on his thigh and it did really fit the picture of krokodil," Doctor Dany Thekkemuriyil told KTVI.

Independent

"We saw that his finger fell off and we saw a severe looking ulcer and sores on his thigh and it did really fit the picture of krokodil," Doctor Dany Thekkemuriyil said.

Huffington Post

By Ian Falconer The New Yorker, October 21 , 1996P. 199 SKETCHBOOK by Ian Falconer; color illustration showing an elementary school classroom in which a little blonde boy with glasses is trying to kiss a terrified girl with braids as a severe-looking teacher looks on angrily and the rest of the students point, cover their faces, or pray in protest.

The New Yorker

SKETCHBOOK by Ian Falconer; color illustration showing an elementary school classroom in which a little blonde boy with glasses is trying to kiss a terrified girl with braids as a severe-looking teacher looks on angrily and the rest of the students point, cover their faces, or pray in protest.

The New Yorker

Try a dark plum or berry color for a less severe look.

WikiHow

You're way out in the weeds and Johnny, our beloved biker protagonist from GTA IV expansion The Lost and Damned, is chatting to some geezer, Trevor, clad in a vomit-y wife-beater vest and with a pretty severe look in his eye.

Vice

He was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look.

The Guardian - Books

I trudge up the drive, wondering how a recent bankrupt can afford all this, when he beckons me in with a rather severe look.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a severe look" to vividly describe a character's reaction or demeanor, enhancing the emotional impact of a scene in your writing. Be mindful to contextualize the phrase to ensure its suitability to the mood.

Common error

Avoid overuse in descriptive writing. Instead of relying solely on "a severe look", vary your descriptions with other specific non-cliché indicators of disapproval, such as a tight-lipped smile or a furrowed brow, to keep your prose fresh.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a severe look" primarily functions as a noun phrase that describes a specific type of facial expression. As indicated by Ludwig, it effectively conveys a sense of seriousness, sternness, or disapproval. The examples show its role in depicting character reactions and emotional atmosphere.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Books

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a severe look" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that vividly describes a facial expression conveying seriousness or disapproval. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness. While not extremely common, occurring with 'Uncommon' frequency according to the analysis, it is employed across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and literature, to add emotional depth and nuance. To avoid overuse, consider employing alternatives like "a stern gaze" or "a harsh glare" to maintain a fresh and engaging writing style. Overall, understanding and effectively using "a severe look" can greatly enhance the descriptive quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a disapproving look

Keeps "look" but emphasizes the negative judgement being communicated.

a stern gaze

Replaces "look" with "gaze" and "severe" with "stern", emphasizing the intensity and firmness of the look.

a harsh glare

Substitutes "severe" with "harsh" and "look" with "glare", highlighting the intensity and unpleasantness of the expression.

a disapproving expression

Replaces the entire phrase with a more descriptive term, focusing on the judgment conveyed by the expression.

an icy stare

Uses "icy" to describe the coldness and lack of emotion in the look, and replaces "look" with "stare".

a piercing gaze

Emphasizes the intensity and penetrating quality of the look by using "piercing" and "gaze".

an intense stare

Highlights the focus and concentration in the look using "intense" and "stare".

a critical eye

Shifts the focus to the judgmental aspect of the look by using "critical eye".

a grim expression

Focuses on the overall facial expression being serious and somber.

an angry glare

Highlights the anger conveyed in the facial expression.

FAQs

How can I use "a severe look" in a sentence?

You can use "a severe look" to describe someone's facial expression that conveys disapproval or seriousness. For example: "The teacher gave the student "a severe look" after he interrupted the lesson."

What can I say instead of "a severe look"?

You can use alternatives like "a stern gaze", "a harsh glare", or "a disapproving expression" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a severe look" or "a severely look"?

"A severe look" is correct. "Severe" is an adjective modifying the noun "look". "Severely" is an adverb and would be used to modify a verb, not a noun.

What's the difference between "a severe look" and "a critical look"?

"A severe look" suggests disapproval or sternness, while "a critical look" implies careful judgment or analysis. While they both involve scrutiny, their emotional connotations differ.