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
The 41-year-old Ukrainian soldier was severely injured during a mine explosion in 2024 while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war.
—
Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
The bear cubs were orphaned last summer and were severely underweight when they were discovered.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 24 May 2026
Air rushing directly into the nostrils could severely disrupt breathing or even cause damage to delicate respiratory tissues.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
The State Department also severely curtailed visa processing, halting the processing of immigrant visa applications for people from 75 countries in January.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 23 May 2026
Use it only when a bed is severely overgrown with grasses.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 23 May 2026
In April, 35,203 Russian soldiers were killed or severely wounded, according to the Ukrainian defense ministry, similar to each of the previous two months.
—Sebastian Shukla, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Three trains were either severely delayed or had to suspend service due to the crash.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2026
While officials initially believed the situation was under control, allowing residents to return home, the crisis severely escalated by Friday morning.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
The bear cubs were orphaned last summer and were severely underweight when they were discovered.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 24 May 2026
Air rushing directly into the nostrils could severely disrupt breathing or even cause damage to delicate respiratory tissues.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
The State Department also severely curtailed visa processing, halting the processing of immigrant visa applications for people from 75 countries in January.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 23 May 2026
Use it only when a bed is severely overgrown with grasses.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 23 May 2026
In April, 35,203 Russian soldiers were killed or severely wounded, according to the Ukrainian defense ministry, similar to each of the previous two months.
—Sebastian Shukla, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Three trains were either severely delayed or had to suspend service due to the crash.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2026
While officials initially believed the situation was under control, allowing residents to return home, the crisis severely escalated by Friday morning.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severely
Adverb
-
Intense protests related to economic issues broke out in Iran in early 2026, but were harshly quelled.—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
Later, people tell me that the police interrogated her like a potential suspect—not harshly, just because of standard procedure.—
Akash Kapur,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Adverb
-
But even Black athletes whose athleticism gifted them an extremely exclusive express lane in life can tell you stories about growing up a minority in America, or tales their parents or grandparents have told.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
-
The theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED) suggests that when light at extremely high intensities interacts with the vacuum, it can be converted into matter.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
Fortunately, this spell of hot temps will be a generally drier heat — not necessarily oppressively humid like is typical for New England.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
19 May 2026
-
The first of the four chapters is an oppressively gray-toned, narratively diffuse spy thriller, set amid the mists of what appears to be the Second World War.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
18 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Kyle has treated Amanda, who suffered as his side chick for years before being elevated to main chick, terribly.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
20 May 2026
-
This isn’t terribly surprising given NASA’s wildly successful Artemis II mission carrying four astronauts around the Moon last month.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2026
Adverb
-
When their convoy is brutally ambushed, they are left handcuffed together and, on the run, forcing her to put her life in his hands.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
Sikkema was found brutally murdered in January 2024 in his Rio de Janeiro apartment.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
This organic cotton dress is incredibly lightweight and breathable, and the floaty skirt allows for full freedom of movement.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
20 May 2026
-
From the concierge who nimbly assisted me with dining and fitness class reservations to the kind dining staff, the friendly Miami team made sure I was always taken care of and was incredibly helpful at offering local recommendations and insight.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
Adverb
-
Brush in hand, she is dwarfed by huge canvases within the paintings on which bare-breasted figures are in the process of emerging—a waiflike handmaiden hard at work at the feet of her American Helens of Troy.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
23 May 2026
-
Rising food costs, inflation and thin profit margins have made late-night service harder to justify, while keeping overnight shifts staffed continues to be a challenge.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2026
Adverb
-
While some African countries are major oil and gas producers, the continent imports the vast majority of its fuels, leaving it badly exposed to foreign energy shocks.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
-
The man died immediately, but his body badly damaged one of the jet engines.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Severely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severely. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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