severity
noun
se·ver·i·ty
sə-ˈver-ə-tē 
: the quality or state of being severe : the condition of being very bad, serious, unpleasant, or harsh
the severity of the climate
the severity of the punishment
Medication can help shorten the illness and lessen its severity.
To make all coastal residents more aware of the severity of the cyclone hazard, and to increase faith and trust in evacuation orders, the emergency personnel must educate them about the benefits of taking refuge in public shelters prior to an approaching cyclone.—
Bimal Kanti Paul
Bimal Kanti PaulA dog, like a human, is prone to two broadly defined types of bone fracture—open and closed. Within each category, breaks of varying severity may occur.—Tom Ewing
Tom EwingExamples of severity in a Sentence
even though no one expected the film to be a hit with the critics, the director was taken aback by the severity of the criticism
Recent Examples on the Web
Nearly 90% of natural gas processing, fractionation, and storage is concentrated in four regions in the U.S., each subject to various environmental hazards that will incur greater complications and costs as climate change exacerbates natural disasters’ frequency and severity.
—Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Try supplements: Certain supplements, such as Riboflavin and CoQ10, can help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.
—Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
Both groups reported similar levels of hot flash frequency and severity at the outset.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Here’s what to know about flying or cruising out of South Florida:
Miami International Airport
If a storm is in the path of flights to or from MIA, airlines will cancel those flights on a case-by-case basis, depending on the severity and location of the storm.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
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Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Try supplements: Certain supplements, such as Riboflavin and CoQ10, can help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.
—Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
Both groups reported similar levels of hot flash frequency and severity at the outset.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Here’s what to know about flying or cruising out of South Florida:
Miami International Airport
If a storm is in the path of flights to or from MIA, airlines will cancel those flights on a case-by-case basis, depending on the severity and location of the storm.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/severity. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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