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
One analysis observed that stretching reduced the severity of leg cramps but did not prevent them.37
Summary
Leg cramps are short yet painful muscle contractions.
—
Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
The push underscores the severity of overhead threats Israel faces.
—Colin Demarest, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024
Directing high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation directly at a tumor or tumors on the liver to destroy cancer cells
Prognosis and Life Expectancy
The prognosis and life expectancy for liver disease depend on the type and severity of the disease.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 25 Oct. 2024
The horse eventually was unable to stand and was euthanized because of the severity of the disease.
—Dan Basso, Detroit Free Press, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for severity 
Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
The push underscores the severity of overhead threats Israel faces.
—Colin Demarest, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024
Directing high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation directly at a tumor or tumors on the liver to destroy cancer cells
Prognosis and Life Expectancy
The prognosis and life expectancy for liver disease depend on the type and severity of the disease.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 25 Oct. 2024
The horse eventually was unable to stand and was euthanized because of the severity of the disease.
—Dan Basso, Detroit Free Press, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
Noun
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Computational hardness was clearly necessary for bit commitments and most other forms of cryptography, but precisely what kind of hardness?Ben Brubaker, WIRED, 30 June 2024
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Minerals like calcium and magnesium can cling to the surface over time, especially in areas with high water hardness.Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2024
Noun
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In the case of the Vanquish, that starts with a chassis that is a stunning 75 percent stiffer in lateral rigidity at the front axle, when compared to the DBS.Dan Carney, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
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Fractional leaders can help address the pain points of traditional models, like the high costs of full-time executives or the rigidity of consulting arrangements.Tomoko Yokoi, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The statement went on to explain that the company would increase the stringency of pre-launch testing phases.Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
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This can be done without financial stringencies by redirecting a fraction of the trillions of dollars spent on the military-industrial-security state.Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 12 May 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near severity
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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