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
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Recent Examples of severity
Mild cognitive impairment’s severity varies, some have mild memory issues, others struggle with planning or language.
—
Nawab John Dar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025
Tyrese Haliburton, who has been pivotal in the Pacers’ playoffs success, is believed to have suffered a right calf strain, and ESPN reported an MRI is needed to determine its severity.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
Iran launched missiles in retaliation, increasing the severity of conflict in the region.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 June 2025
Nearly 90% of natural gas processing, fractionation, and storage is concentrated in four regions in the U.S., each subject to various environmental hazards that will incur greater complications and costs as climate change exacerbates natural disasters’ frequency and severity.
—Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Nawab John Dar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025
Tyrese Haliburton, who has been pivotal in the Pacers’ playoffs success, is believed to have suffered a right calf strain, and ESPN reported an MRI is needed to determine its severity.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
Iran launched missiles in retaliation, increasing the severity of conflict in the region.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 June 2025
Nearly 90% of natural gas processing, fractionation, and storage is concentrated in four regions in the U.S., each subject to various environmental hazards that will incur greater complications and costs as climate change exacerbates natural disasters’ frequency and severity.
—Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
Noun
-
The severity of water spots varies depending on your local water hardness.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2025
-
The hardness of seats, even those that recline flat into a bed, is a common pain point for many customers on long-haul flights.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 May 2025
Noun
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This mindset reflects a broader trend amongst younger professionals seeing stability not as rigidity but as flexibility to grow and thrive in dynamic environments.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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And so, a story of American racial rigidity also suggests a certain fluidity, constrained by the often harsh racist past that is an inescapable part of the country’s story.—
Rick Rojas,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
Noun
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Before this report, private hot tubs were not required to be cleaned with the same stringency as public hot tubs according to CDC guidelines.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2025
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Some express bafflement over the stringency of the requirements.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2012
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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