severity

noun

sə-ˈver-ə-tē How to pronounce severity (audio)
Definition of severitynext
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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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 severity Holding her tongue is not Kate’s forte in general, and the severity of Todd’s avalanche of blunders in their meeting with the British foreign secretary tests the outer limits of her ability. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026 The President, the Treasury Secretary, and Congressional leadership need to understand the severity of this issue. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 The severity of reactions can vary widely, ranging from mild symptoms to potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026 Governor Eli Remolona said Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas now sets policy using scenarios that factor in oil prices and the severity of the weather event. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
  1. hardness
  2. strictness
  3. sternness
  4. rigidity
  5. harshness
  6. stringency
  7. inflexibility
  8. rigidness
Noun
  • Chrysoberyl is a rare gemstone prized for its exceptional hardness and brilliance, known for its honey and chartreuse hues that shift under the light, making Khaled’s one-of-a-kind watch shine that much brighter.
    — Taylor Stoddard, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, measuring about 5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which is higher than some types of iron and steel, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of hardness
Noun
  • Let strictness with yourself earn your right to high expectations of others.
    — Brendan Keegan, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Her clever approach looks at a large number of middle schools in Norway, ranking their divergent smartphone policies across a range from strictness to leniency.
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of strictness
Noun
  • Saura had a large sense of the humor, which struck those who got to know him, belying the sternness of his public visage with his playful banter and frequent chuckle.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of sternness
Noun
  • Marshall Faulk, the Hall of Fame running back and former Rams star, says he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about 18 months ago after noticing hand rigidity while golfing.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • That helps with digital grounding and rigidity, making for better sound quality than conventional metals.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of rigidity
Noun
  • Something is roiling under the surface of Smallwood’s harshness.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Even then, their triumph is far from assured; the climb becomes more unreal in its harshness.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of harshness
Noun
  • These rules were enforced with various levels of stringency throughout the week, but several journalists complained of having to argue with security staff in order to bring in innocuous items such as laptops and cosmetics.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
  • The administration says that this risk model is too cautious, leading to costly conservatism in reactor design, staffing redundancies and stringency in licensing.
    — Katy Huff, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026
Definition of stringency
Noun
  • Long agrees, but adds that those who may be child-free should beware of many of those accounts' inflexibility.
    — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Signs of a low travel IQ include inflexibility, ignoring cultural norms, and panicking over minor issues.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of inflexibility
Noun
  • Frankie wanted to rid himself of rigidness.
    — Danielle Paquette The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Aristidou utilizes Danae, whose controlling dad suffocates her with his seemingly overbearing rigidness, as a counterpoint to the other extreme of fatherhood.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
Definition of rigidness

Browse Nearby Words

severing
severity
severs
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Cite this Entry

“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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