1
as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
the building was severely damaged by the explosion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in extremely
to a great degree
the rescued mountain climbers were severely dehydrated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of severely
Frank Olton, 76, was found on Monday tied to a pole in his basement suffering from multiple stab wounds, and his wife Maureen Olton, 77, was found on the house's first floor, severely burned, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference on Tuesday.
—
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025
One of every $8 in outstanding US credit card debt was severely delinquent at the end of June, the highest level since 2010.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2025
First impressions were severely underwhelming.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
But the plan goes severely awry when Hastings’ and Edwards’ planned ambush of the convoy is interrupted by German intelligence officers in a surprise attack, leaving their members wounded and in need of a retreat.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
If a dog that has not been officially declared dangerous severely injures or kills a person when unprovoked, authorities may confiscate the dog, and the dog’s owner is liable for the incident.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
There’s usually a physical requirement, as well as severely playing down the high-wattage glamor that got you on red carpets in the first place.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
Israeli strikes severely weakened Hezbollah – culminating in the assassination of its revered leader, Hassan Nasrallah – and significantly curtailed the group’s domestic clout.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
The movements of Iranian diplomats are severely limited in New York, but one proposal being floated would bar them from shopping at big, members-only wholesale stores like Costco and Sam’s Club without first receiving the express permission of the State Department.
—Matthew Lee, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025
One of every $8 in outstanding US credit card debt was severely delinquent at the end of June, the highest level since 2010.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2025
First impressions were severely underwhelming.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
But the plan goes severely awry when Hastings’ and Edwards’ planned ambush of the convoy is interrupted by German intelligence officers in a surprise attack, leaving their members wounded and in need of a retreat.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
If a dog that has not been officially declared dangerous severely injures or kills a person when unprovoked, authorities may confiscate the dog, and the dog’s owner is liable for the incident.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
There’s usually a physical requirement, as well as severely playing down the high-wattage glamor that got you on red carpets in the first place.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
Israeli strikes severely weakened Hezbollah – culminating in the assassination of its revered leader, Hassan Nasrallah – and significantly curtailed the group’s domestic clout.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
The movements of Iranian diplomats are severely limited in New York, but one proposal being floated would bar them from shopping at big, members-only wholesale stores like Costco and Sam’s Club without first receiving the express permission of the State Department.
—Matthew Lee, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severely
Adverb
-
The data speaks more harshly than any anecdote.—
Yermys Pena,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Importantly, the association urged owners not to discipline their pups harshly for the behavior.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Lisa, 28, wore a black maxi dress with cutouts, and paired the look with an extremely rare Hermès Birkin while in South Korea's capital city.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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On an oppressively hot Friday in July, plumes of smoke curl up from Arnolds Field.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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But there’s also darkness in Cherry’s past, including an ex-boyfriend who has either terribly wronged her or been terribly wronged by her.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
-
And what if that fight didn’t go terribly well?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
This recent history reminds us just how brutally inflation spikes can demolish market confidence.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
In February, 2024, when a nursing student named Laken Riley was brutally raped and murdered by a Venezuelan immigrant in Georgia, Republicans at the state and national level argued that the perpetrator was connected to Tren de Aragua.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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His brother had been badly damaged by scandal when the family's British tabloids were found to have hacked into mobile phone voicemails and otherwise violated people's privacy.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
10 Sep. 2025
-
There’s one episode that really stuck with me about a woman who had been bullied badly in middle school.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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That looks like a different Caleb Williams to me, so Ben Johnson's coached him hard this offseason.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The mixer's bowl boasts a distinctive walnut shade and wood grain pattern, and its food-safe seal means the bowl works hard (and looks good doing it).—
Ella Field,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Because hot & sour soup is incredibly nuanced.—
Shindy Chen,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
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In her new YouTube video, Katelynn explained how grief and depression have made daily tasks incredibly difficult for her, and a recent change in routine has further increased her poor mental state.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Severely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severely. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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