SEVERELY Synonyms: 199 Similar and Opposite Words

severely

adverb

Definition of severely

as in harshly

in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering the building was severely damaged by the explosion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in extremely

to a great degree the rescued mountain climbers were severely dehydrated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 severely Fetal personhood would also likely eliminate, or at a minimum severely restrict, people who seek to start a family using surrogacy and in vitro fertilization. — Jim Defede, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026 Torosian had told the prosecutor’s office that an undernourished, severely disabled girl who was receiving treatment at BioMed was subsisting entirely on spinach—on Kotthaus’s orders. — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 The man who got sick was severely immunocompromised and later died. — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026 Frozen shoulder, a condition that causes pain and severely restricts shoulder movement, is also more common in peri- and postmenopausal women. — Cheyenne Buckingham, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, free cash flow at another budget carrier, JetBlue Airways, remains severely squeezed by elevated jet fuel prices. — CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 That shutoff severely disrupted Russian battlefield operations in the early part of the year. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026 Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and recent developments have severely hampered the country’s ability to export diesel fuel. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026 At 12,600 feet elevation, the climber fell through a snow bridge, severely injuring his leg. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for severely

Adverb

That decision by the president was praised by Putin but criticized harshly by members of Congress, including some Republicans.

— Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Stewart was an executive producer of his friend Colbert’s show and harshly criticized the cancellation, rejecting Paramount’s financial justification and accusing the company of bending the knee to the president.

— Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of harshly

Adverb

The summer had seen Europe endure an oppressively dry, hot summer, which had seen wildfires spring up across the continent.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
After a bit of a reprieve from an oppressively hot summer, another heat wave is set to scorch Southern California this week.

— Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of oppressively

Adverb

There's no doubt that Riley Green's acoustic performances are incredibly popular.

— David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
These teachers work with students who have an incredibly diverse set of needs, including those with autism, learning disabilities such as dyslexia, developmental delays and physical disabilities.

— Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of incredibly

Adverb

With nearly 60 murders per day, South Africa has one of the world's highest crime rates, and several of Cape Town's townships are among the areas hardest hit by violent crime.

— Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Eisenkot believes Netanyahu has purposefully made that process harder.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of hard

Browse Nearby Words

severed

severely

severeness

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“Severely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severely. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of severely

adverb

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