as in hardness
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)
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
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Recent Examples of severity
But given the scale and severity of the problems hitting Musk’s business empire all at once, an all-out effort may be appropriate.
—
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Nuclear verdicts have been increasing in both frequency and severity — not just in certain big cities known for delivering plaintiff-friendly outcomes, but also all across the country.
—Robert Tyson, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Studies do suggest there’s a link between the severity of perimenopause/menopause symptoms and eating disorder risk: Women with more (or worse) symptoms are more prone to having a negative body image or at least some symptoms of an eating disorder.
—Amy Norton, SELF, 27 May 2025
Vaccinations remain the best way to prevent coronavirus infection and lower the risk of subsequent long COVID by reducing the severity of the initial infection and immune response.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Nuclear verdicts have been increasing in both frequency and severity — not just in certain big cities known for delivering plaintiff-friendly outcomes, but also all across the country.
—Robert Tyson, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Studies do suggest there’s a link between the severity of perimenopause/menopause symptoms and eating disorder risk: Women with more (or worse) symptoms are more prone to having a negative body image or at least some symptoms of an eating disorder.
—Amy Norton, SELF, 27 May 2025
Vaccinations remain the best way to prevent coronavirus infection and lower the risk of subsequent long COVID by reducing the severity of the initial infection and immune response.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
Noun
-
Routine tests are ran every few hours to check water quality through pH, chlorine, phosphate, fluoride, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness, turbidity and the Langelier Saturation Index, which determines water balance.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Also add calcium chloride if the water's calcium level (hardness) is too low.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The subframes themselves are actually based on the Series III E-Type generation due to their improved rigidity and durability.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
Her life read a bit like a cautionary tale against the rigidities of radicalism.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
Before this report, private hot tubs were not required to be cleaned with the same stringency as public hot tubs according to CDC guidelines.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2025
-
Some express bafflement over the stringency of the requirements.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2012
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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