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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of severity
Meanwhile, there are doubts about the severity of the security situation that prompted the president to expedite the resettlement of Afrikaners.
—
Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 13 May 2025
Around a quarter of adults aged 65 and older are thought to be affected, but until now there hasn't been a way to reliably assess severity.
—Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 11 May 2025
Henry’s unplanned trip to Kansas City to meet with Devers was highly unusual and highlights the severity of the situation.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The student's friends took her to a nearby apartment to rest after the fall, not realizing the severity of her injuries.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 13 May 2025
Around a quarter of adults aged 65 and older are thought to be affected, but until now there hasn't been a way to reliably assess severity.
—Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 11 May 2025
Henry’s unplanned trip to Kansas City to meet with Devers was highly unusual and highlights the severity of the situation.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The student's friends took her to a nearby apartment to rest after the fall, not realizing the severity of her injuries.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 3 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 establishment’s rigidity is most evident with respect to COVID’s origins.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
-
From the rigidity of billable hours to the outdated communication systems and office politics, the system didn’t make sense.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
17 May 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 24 May. 2025.
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