Synonym Chooser

How is the word sever distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sever are divide, divorce, part, separate, and sunder. While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.

a severed limb

When might divide be a better fit than sever?

The synonyms divide and sever are sometimes interchangeable, but divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.

civil war divided the nation

When is it sensible to use divorce instead of sever?

The meanings of divorce and sever largely overlap; however, divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.

cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

When could part be used to replace sever?

In some situations, the words part and sever are roughly equivalent. However, part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.

vowed never to part

When would separate be a good substitute for sever?

The words separate and sever are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.

separated her personal life from her career

When can sunder be used instead of sever?

While in some cases nearly identical to sever, sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.

a city sundered by racial conflict

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 sever Since 2023, five undersea cables and two pipelines were damaged in the Baltic, 16 cables around Taiwan, and one pipeline in the Red Sea have all been severed or damaged either deliberately or under suspicious circumstances. David Szondy june 10, New Atlas, 10 June 2025 Since Venezuela and the U.S. severed diplomatic relations in 2019, Venezuelans have had to travel to neighboring South American countries to obtain U.S. visas. Arkansas Online, 10 June 2025 One victim, the father of a crypto millionaire, was allegedly held for days in a house south of Paris — and reportedly had a finger severed during the ordeal. Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 7 June 2025 With Trump threatening to sever government ties with Musk's businesses, most notably SpaceX, Newsweek looked at the web of contracts that bind the billionaire's ventures to the U.S. government. Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sever
Verb
  • In a game where the Angels and Nationals combined for 24 runs and 30 hits — with the 19 hits and 15 runs given up by the Angels’ pitching staff representing season-worst marks — what ultimately separated the teams was the Angels’ inability to come through with runners on base.
    Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
  • Here are the other five skills separating the good from the game-changers: 6.
    Steve Taplin, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • The brand’s production is divided between Paris and Istanbul, the latter being a city with family ties for India.
    Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
  • The Oval Office’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ has divided opinion, after estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found the policies would cost the poorest Americans roughly $1,600 a year while increasing the income of the wealthiest households by an average of $12,000 annually.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • That allowed Igor Jesus to put Botafogo in front to stay shortly before the intermission, splitting a pair of PSG defenders to run on to Jefferson Savarino’s perfectly weighted through ball, then beating keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from the top of the box.
    Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
  • Breaking Down The Pillars Microservices The core principle of microservices involves splitting a monolithic application into multiple independent services.
    Raju Dandigam, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • As highlighted in the report, empathetic managers reduce uncertainty stress by 37% and disconnect by nearly 50%.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
  • If time allows, disconnect utilities and appliances.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • Israel and its rivals have not resolved their political disputes, which in some cases have been further inflamed by the bloodshed.
    Greg Myre, NPR, 28 June 2025
  • In a 6-3 decision, the court did not resolve the constitutionality of one of Trump’s earliest and most provocative executive orders — a denial of birthright citizenship ensconced in the Constitution and affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
    Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sever. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sever

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!