1
as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
the building was severely damaged by the explosion
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in extremely
to a great degree
the rescued mountain climbers were severely dehydrated
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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
-
As furious protests enter their third week and bring Iran to the precipice of change, the country’s theocratic government is trying to survive by harshly cracking down on the widening demonstrations.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
-
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
Adverb
-
They’re designed with roomy interiors and tons of compartments that make organizing your packing essentials extremely easy.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Sortke 18x18-Inch Set of 2 Throw Pillow Covers This two-pack of throw pillow covers is extremely discounted right now.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
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
-
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
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
-
Shortly after release, Fuentes-Ponce and Escobar brutally murdered that young girl.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Jan. 2026
-
His young colleague in the District Attorney’s office, Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve), has just been brutally murdered.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Scott, 51, says she's always been incredibly close with her sons.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Bella 2-Slice Slim Toaster Toasters are handy kitchen appliances, but so many of them are incredibly bulky, taking up more than their fair share of counter space.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Stevens said the loss of Lea’e’s father hit the team hard.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Worse, the tariff burden is a regressive tax that falls hardest on lower-income households and small businesses with less bargaining power.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
People behaving badly is on them.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Respecting Nature During a Superbloom The Internet is full of news stories about tourists behaving badly during a superbloom.—
Outside,
Outside,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Severely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severely. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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