as in separating
to set or force apart
disapproving parents who were willing to do anything to sever the young lovers
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Recent Examples of severing
The Leap is predicated on severing attachment to all things (see Laura’s inability to feel love for her baby), but love is a key factor in creating a secure attachment.
—
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Attachment theory pervades an institution that seems fixated on severing teens’ bonds with parents who are invariably discovered to be, if not complete monsters, at least ill-suited for the task of caring for their own children.
—Judy Berman, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
Even a small peninsula could host a basic airfield and seaport to facilitate the movement of people and aid, severing Gaza’s unhealthy dependency on Israel and Egypt.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2025
Some of the charities spoke out in statements about the reasoning for severing ties with the Duchess of York.
—USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
What sets Birmingham apart, though, is its ability to innovate without severing ties to those traditions.
—Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Loro Piana has reaffirmed its commitment to improving its supply chain auditing, severing ties with suppliers found in violation of its agreements, as did Valentino, Giorgio Armani and Dior.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Before probation officers could carry out Keesler’s order and fix a monitor to Altunar’s leg, ICE agents again took him into custody — this time severing him from his lawyer for about a month, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2025
When the internet in Iran is cut off, the images freeze or disappear, severing Maryam’s bond with her homeland.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Attachment theory pervades an institution that seems fixated on severing teens’ bonds with parents who are invariably discovered to be, if not complete monsters, at least ill-suited for the task of caring for their own children.
—Judy Berman, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
Even a small peninsula could host a basic airfield and seaport to facilitate the movement of people and aid, severing Gaza’s unhealthy dependency on Israel and Egypt.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2025
Some of the charities spoke out in statements about the reasoning for severing ties with the Duchess of York.
—USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
What sets Birmingham apart, though, is its ability to innovate without severing ties to those traditions.
—Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Loro Piana has reaffirmed its commitment to improving its supply chain auditing, severing ties with suppliers found in violation of its agreements, as did Valentino, Giorgio Armani and Dior.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Before probation officers could carry out Keesler’s order and fix a monitor to Altunar’s leg, ICE agents again took him into custody — this time severing him from his lawyer for about a month, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2025
When the internet in Iran is cut off, the images freeze or disappear, severing Maryam’s bond with her homeland.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severing
Verb
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The Inland Rail Trail is a 21-mile bike path that is 8 to 10 feet wide with a 2-foot-wide unpaved shoulder and barriers separating the trail from motor vehicles.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
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There were just two points separating the teams after Blake Grupe’s field goal in the fourth quarter, before two crucial plays from Josh Allen – first a 27-yard scramble through the Saints defense, then a 28-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Kincaid – extended the Bills’ lead.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Experts say the median offers a more accurate view of what's happening in a market than the average list price, which would mean taking the sum of all listing prices then dividing by the number of homes sold.—
USA TODAY Network,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Sep. 2025
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This amount is expressed by dividing the share price by the company’s earnings per share to get the price-to-earnings ratio.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Whereas traditional nuclear fission energy creates power by splitting atoms, fusion uses heat to create energy by melding them together.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Last season, though, Vegas started deploying its top defensemen a bit differently, splitting the toughest minutes between Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin and Brayden McNabb.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For Allen, this legal tool disproportionately undermines Black communities, eroding generational wealth and disconnecting families from their neighborhoods.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The update promises to address user complaints about the newest iPhones mysteriously disconnecting from Wi-Fi without reason.—
Senior Reporter,
PC Magazine,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Severing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severing. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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