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
However, due to the severity of his injuries, the man was pronounced dead by medical staff.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Alcohol use remains a leading driver of admissions to Haymarket Center, and many patients come with complex, co-occurring needs, including mental health conditions, housing instability and trauma, which reflect the severity and breadth of alcohol’s impact.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Frequent stress affects every system in your body, resulting in negative health outcomes that range in severity from muscle tension to heart stress and inflammation.
—Currie Engel, Health, 4 Jan. 2026
Depending on the severity of Blackwood’s injury, Wedgewood, at least in the short term, is going to have to ramp up the quantity to match his quality.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
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Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Alcohol use remains a leading driver of admissions to Haymarket Center, and many patients come with complex, co-occurring needs, including mental health conditions, housing instability and trauma, which reflect the severity and breadth of alcohol’s impact.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Frequent stress affects every system in your body, resulting in negative health outcomes that range in severity from muscle tension to heart stress and inflammation.
—Currie Engel, Health, 4 Jan. 2026
Depending on the severity of Blackwood’s injury, Wedgewood, at least in the short term, is going to have to ramp up the quantity to match his quality.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 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 10 Jan. 2026.
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