severity
noun
se·ver·i·ty
sə-ˈver-ə-tē 
: the quality or state of being severe : the condition of being very bad, serious, unpleasant, or harsh
the severity of the climate
the severity of the punishment
Medication can help shorten the illness and lessen its severity.
To make all coastal residents more aware of the severity of the cyclone hazard, and to increase faith and trust in evacuation orders, the emergency personnel must educate them about the benefits of taking refuge in public shelters prior to an approaching cyclone.—
Bimal Kanti Paul
Bimal Kanti PaulA dog, like a human, is prone to two broadly defined types of bone fracture—open and closed. Within each category, breaks of varying severity may occur.—Tom Ewing
Tom EwingExamples of severity in a Sentence
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
Recent Examples on the Web
While the severity of the deterioration came as a surprise, ACHD was already scoping a replacement for the aging bridge, Tanis said.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 19 Dec. 2025
One of the cats was euthanized because of the severity of its condition, authorities said.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
The amount of time that an electrical current lasts has a great influence in the severity of the injuries.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
The most common side effects were gastrointestinal related and generally mild to moderate in severity.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
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Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 19 Dec. 2025
One of the cats was euthanized because of the severity of its condition, authorities said.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
The amount of time that an electrical current lasts has a great influence in the severity of the injuries.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
The most common side effects were gastrointestinal related and generally mild to moderate in severity.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/severity. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.
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