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
In the ninth century, a severely disabled woman was buried, her feet bound, in an annex of the church in Elsau, outside Zürich.
—
Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
The time is never right to severely chop off your crape myrtle.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
Although severely weakened by a years-long economic crisis, Venezuela’s armed forces remain a formidable actor.
—Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
In the ballad, the hero is betrayed by his cousin, who bleeds him too severely while administering a blood-letting cure.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Less than a year later, Rushdie was attacked onstage and severely injured.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
No injuries were reported, but the building was severely damaged and left uninhabitable.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
If rain severely limits your sight, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2026
Israel launched a widespread bombardment of Lebanon in September 2024 that severely weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion.
—Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
The time is never right to severely chop off your crape myrtle.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
Although severely weakened by a years-long economic crisis, Venezuela’s armed forces remain a formidable actor.
—Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
In the ballad, the hero is betrayed by his cousin, who bleeds him too severely while administering a blood-letting cure.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Less than a year later, Rushdie was attacked onstage and severely injured.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
No injuries were reported, but the building was severely damaged and left uninhabitable.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
If rain severely limits your sight, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2026
Israel launched a widespread bombardment of Lebanon in September 2024 that severely weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion.
—Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severely
Adverb
-
In a press conference later in the day, Mayor Frey, 44, harshly condemned the actions of ICE in his city and pushed back against the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) claims that the agent involved in the fatal shooting acted in self defense.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
One of his non-Jewish primary opponents, Palm Coast City Council member Charles Gambaro, harshly criticized Fine’s Gaza remarks and declared that Gambaro, too, would seek AIPAC’s endorsement.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The first indicator is oftentimes a lack of water flow from faucets when the weather is extremely cold.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Skeeter, 36, serves as the Hornets’ player development coach and is also the primary person who works extremely closely with star guard LaMelo Ball.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The second planet from the sun has a completely inhospitable surface, with temperatures reaching 863 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius) and a crushing pressure underneath an oppressively thick atmosphere.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
On an oppressively hot Friday in July, plumes of smoke curl up from Arnolds Field.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
The data center industry does not have a terribly good answer for this, except that their 83° sun-synchronous orbit is much less crowded than equatorial ones, meaning a lower risk of collisions.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Polls, however, suggest the bill is not terribly popular with voters, which has left Republicans saying the White House must do a better job of selling it.—
Ryan Mancini,
The Hill,
31 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
But those guards fell crashing down on Wednesday night in a brutally honest assessment of his team following Boise State’s (9-6, 1-3 Mountain West) 75-58 home loss to Grand Canyon (9-5, 2-1) at ExtraMile Arena.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The result was over a century of catastrophe, not just for ordinary Europeans but also for the people of numerous African countries that were colonized, often brutally.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The pork was incredibly tender and juicy, with a bold but balanced mix of spices that didn’t overpower each other.—
Alexa Stone
January 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
-
These kind of creative environments are so incredibly inspiring to me.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Alexandria has been really hard hit, down 50% in that period.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
6 Jan. 2026
-
For instance, walking most days is far better than exercising hard once a month.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
How do the Chiefs fall behind that badly in any passing statistic when Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback throwing the football?—
Sam McDowell
January 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The area was badly burned, but still Simpson noticed green sprouts peeking out of the ashy soil and from the branches of trees that the average passerby might assume were dead.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Severely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severely. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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