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
Hoyos said the medical staff is evaluating him to determine the severity of the injury.
—Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
The level of severity of these storms will be determined by how the atmosphere recovers after preceding rain moving through Saturday morning, but enough energy could build up by late Saturday afternoon for some severe storms to develop over the area.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
Yet the cybersecurity community remains split on the true severity of the threat.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026
The specific multiplier depends on the severity of your injuries and the long-term impact on your life.
—William Jones, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
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Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
The level of severity of these storms will be determined by how the atmosphere recovers after preceding rain moving through Saturday morning, but enough energy could build up by late Saturday afternoon for some severe storms to develop over the area.
—Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
Yet the cybersecurity community remains split on the true severity of the threat.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026
The specific multiplier depends on the severity of your injuries and the long-term impact on your life.
—William Jones, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/severity. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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