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
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Recent Examples of severity
What is striking is not just the severity of the problems, but their durability.
—
Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The answer depends on the severity of the freeze, where the frozen pipes are located and how big the pipes are.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
The Grizzlies announced the severity of the injury Saturday and said the two-time All-Star would be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks.
—Arkansas Online, 25 Jan. 2026
This map shows the relative severity and potential disruptive impact of winter weather in the next 72 hours.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The answer depends on the severity of the freeze, where the frozen pipes are located and how big the pipes are.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
The Grizzlies announced the severity of the injury Saturday and said the two-time All-Star would be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks.
—Arkansas Online, 25 Jan. 2026
This map shows the relative severity and potential disruptive impact of winter weather in the next 72 hours.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
Noun
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This included changing characteristics like the planets' sizes, the speed of their rotation, their internal heating, and the hardness of rotating fluid within their vortices.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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This footwear has been in style since last year and can easily make a nice contrasting outfit with having a dark leather uppers, feature rounded or squared toes that bring a contrasting hardness to mom jeans’ light washes and high-waist fit.—
Aaron Royce,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And there’s little strictness about ideological consistency.—
Charles Duhigg,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
His mother’s strictness helped Harewood avoid getting caught up in selling drugs.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Yet behind his sternness lived a man of reflection and sensitivity, whose words and verses hinted at a gentleness rarely shown.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
13 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
And rigidity and stiffness is three.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Wren Ingram found out how a metal ring's rigidity can become an issue the hard way.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Seoul 1988 Retinal Eye Cream Viral for using retinal (stronger than retinol) in a liposome delivery system for smoother texture without harshness.—
Corein Carter,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The noise cancellation is legendary, and the sound is balanced and clean, with no weird bass boosting or treble harshness.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Reportedly, a final deal between the U.S. and the EU was held up over Trump’s distaste for the stringency of the Digital Services Act, a regulation that aims to make the internet safer and more transparent for EU citizens and consumers.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Sep. 2025
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Further, Minnesota agencies that oversee mining have upheld the stringency of those standards when challenged by mining opponents in court.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Red Sox could also try to move on from Masataka Yoshida, though his contract, injury history and positional inflexibility will hamper his trade value.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
16 Jan. 2026
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Roster inflexibility could further complicate matters.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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