severity

noun

sə-ˈver-ə-tē How to pronounce severity (audio)
Definition of severitynext
as in hardness
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism) even though no one expected the film to be a hit with the critics, the director was taken aback by the severity of the criticism

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of severity In July 1990, four children stumbled upon the body, which was unable to be identified due to the severity of her injuries. — Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Sep. 2026 The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026 The project captures the severity of Spain's homelessness crisis and highlights the stories of unhoused people. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the severity of the stain. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
  1. hardness
  2. strictness
  3. sternness
  4. rigidity
  5. harshness
  6. stringency
  7. inflexibility
  8. rigidness
Noun
  • Mechanical properties such as hardness and stiffness can help researchers understand how the protective layers respond to stresses and whether changes could affect fuel performance.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
  • And with the hardness increasing exponentially as the numbers grow, no regular computers are likely to break RSA encryption anytime soon.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of hardness
Noun
  • Her clever approach looks at a large number of middle schools in Norway, ranking their divergent smartphone policies across a range from strictness to leniency.
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
  • But their specific details and strictness have modulated between political administrations in recent years.
    — Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 1 June 2026
Definition of strictness
Noun
  • Saura had a large sense of the humor, which struck those who got to know him, belying the sternness of his public visage with his playful banter and frequent chuckle.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of sternness
Noun
  • In an electric bike, where the top tube must house a 230Wh battery pack, these wider, inherently stiff aluminum tubes actually provide superior rigidity over narrow-titanium piping.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Traditional silicon panels can be difficult to integrate into vehicle surfaces because of their rigidity and weight.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of rigidity
Noun
  • Reparations are about exercising a radical vision, thinking beyond the harshness of life, and knowing that something better is possible.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
  • The harshness of the response suggested that after nearly five decades of trying to negotiate with the SSPX, the Holy See has had enough.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of harshness
Noun
  • These rules were enforced with various levels of stringency throughout the week, but several journalists complained of having to argue with security staff in order to bring in innocuous items such as laptops and cosmetics.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
  • The administration says that this risk model is too cautious, leading to costly conservatism in reactor design, staffing redundancies and stringency in licensing.
    — Katy Huff, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026
Definition of stringency
Noun
  • Disappointed at Alice’s inflexibility, and still haunted by his experiences with Nate, Ted suspends her for a match, the final match before the Christmas break.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Before Ramos’ injury, rookie Bryce Eldridge was receiving inconsistent playing time, partly due to the roster’s inflexibility.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 June 2026
Definition of inflexibility
Noun
  • Frankie wanted to rid himself of rigidness.
    — Danielle Paquette The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Aristidou utilizes Danae, whose controlling dad suffocates her with his seemingly overbearing rigidness, as a counterpoint to the other extreme of fatherhood.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
Definition of rigidness

Browse Nearby Words

severing
severity
severs
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Cite this Entry

“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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