adjective, verb · severe, cruel, or relentless in conditions, treatment, or discipline

北极地区的自然环境极其严酷。

adjective · fierce and intense, especially when describing competition or markets

在严酷的竞争中，只有强者才能生存。

adjective · sternly cold or forbidding, particularly regarding facts, reality, or a situation

面对严酷的现实，他没有选择退缩。