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
Researchers used a standardized scale to rate the severity of participants’ sleep apnea, based on the number of breathing pauses (apneas) and shallow breaths (hypopneas) per hour during sleep.
—
Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The shrinking of a staple loaf of bread in Bolivia highlights the severity of its economic crisis ahead of Sunday’s presidential election.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The researchers don't yet know the precise mechanisms behind this alarming spike in OSA severity, but say a change in behaviors such as staying up late or sleeping in, plus alcohol intake, looks be the key driver.
—New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2025
Homicide Detectives were called to the scene, given the severity of the 38-year-old man's condition.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 15 Aug. 2025
The shrinking of a staple loaf of bread in Bolivia highlights the severity of its economic crisis ahead of Sunday’s presidential election.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 13 Aug. 2025
The researchers don't yet know the precise mechanisms behind this alarming spike in OSA severity, but say a change in behaviors such as staying up late or sleeping in, plus alcohol intake, looks be the key driver.
—New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2025
Homicide Detectives were called to the scene, given the severity of the 38-year-old man's condition.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
Noun
-
Side effects can include rash, pain, swelling, or hardness at the site of injection.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
4 July 2025
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This action served to strengthen those walls, thus increasing the stiffness and hardness of the wood by 260.5% and 127%, respectively.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In a role that increasingly demands diplomacy across cultural and political lines, his clarity emerged as problematic rigidity.—
Rick Burton,
Sportico.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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In Stitch Fix’s early days, customers had one option – five items in a box at a recurring cadence with one discount mechanism – but these days, there’s less rigidity.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Further, Minnesota agencies that oversee mining have upheld the stringency of those standards when challenged by mining opponents in court.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Aug. 2025
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Stepping backward, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) increased the stringency of the state’s low carbon fuel standards (LCFS).—
Wayne Winegarden,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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