sever

verb

ˈse-vər How to pronounce sever (audio)
Definition of severnext
as in to separate
to set or force apart disapproving parents who were willing to do anything to sever the young lovers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sever distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sever are divide, divorce, part, separate, and sunder. While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.

a severed limb

When might divide be a better fit than sever?

The synonyms divide and sever are sometimes interchangeable, but divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.

civil war divided the nation

When is it sensible to use divorce instead of sever?

The meanings of divorce and sever largely overlap; however, divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.

cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

When could part be used to replace sever?

In some situations, the words part and sever are roughly equivalent. However, part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.

vowed never to part

When would separate be a good substitute for sever?

The words separate and sever are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.

separated her personal life from her career

When can sunder be used instead of sever?

While in some cases nearly identical to sever, sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.

a city sundered by racial conflict

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sever Even if they’re not technically severed, they’re still cut off from a part of themselves due to their allegiance to Kier and the ideology of Lumon. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025 The group seized South Kivu’s main airport, severing the Congolese army's final resupply route. — Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025 Europe, now fervently on the path of severing ties with the USA, could gang up with the above nations plus Japan, China and few more key Arab countries to replace our mighty U.S. dollar as the international reserve currency. — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 14 Mar. 2025 Many companies didn’t hesitate to immediately sever ties with him. — David Renzer, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sever
  1. separate
  2. divide
  3. split
  4. disconnect
  5. resolve
Verb
  • In the video game, as with the series, a five-year gap separates the two narrative installments, with main character Ellie jumping from 14 years old to 19 and putting on a good deal of muscle and height between that time.
    — Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 5 Apr. 2025
  • They were separated from one another for the vast majority of the three films rather than given the kinds of great adventures and bonding moments that the original trilogy gave its core trio, and that led to much less compelling camaraderie and characters.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of separate
Verb
  • The appeals court divided 2-1 in turning down the government's request to halt Boasberg's directive.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The Trump administration reportedly calculated the tariff by dividing the trade deficit ($7.4 billion) by the value of imports to America ($22.2 billion) and then essentially halving the figure to reach 17%.
    — Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of divide
Verb
  • At the time the law was passed, civil society inside Russia itself was split.
    — Anastasiya Zavyalova, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Followers were split in the comment section of his video.
    — Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of split
Verb
  • Without that strategic mindset, DEI risks becoming performative and, while well-intentioned, is ultimately disconnected from real impact.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Republican Senator Steve Daines, of Montana, said a staffer tested the agency's main phone line and was disconnected twice before holding for an hour on the third try, only to be cut off again.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of disconnect
Verb
  • How soon will the Supreme Court resolve the disputes?
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Cognitive dissonance is about resolving conflicts in information by choosing what is most comfortable.
    — Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of resolve

Browse Nearby Words

seventh heaven
sever
several
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sever. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on sever

Nglish: Translation of sever for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
kestrel
Name That Bird Quiz Are you as wise as an owl or just another birdbrain?
See All