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
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Recent Examples of severity
While the severity of the injuries varied, all of those injured were expected to recover, and most had been released from hospital care within a couple of days.
—
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 17 June 2026
He was later airlifted to a medical center in Massachusetts based on the severity of his injuries.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
The biggest expense many are seeing is insurance as companies face an increase in the number and severity of insurance claims, leading to rising premiums and fewer plan options.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 11 June 2026
The Williams injury sounds like a new injury, the severity of which is unclear.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 17 June 2026
He was later airlifted to a medical center in Massachusetts based on the severity of his injuries.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
The biggest expense many are seeing is insurance as companies face an increase in the number and severity of insurance claims, leading to rising premiums and fewer plan options.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 11 June 2026
The Williams injury sounds like a new injury, the severity of which is unclear.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
Noun
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The new method led to a classification system that ranks a meteoroid's hardness.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
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An unexpected discovery Diamond is valued in advanced technology because of its exceptional hardness, optical properties, and thermal conductivity (Tc).—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Noun
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But their specific details and strictness have modulated between political administrations in recent years.—
Rachel Frazin,
The Hill,
1 June 2026
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The ubiquity and strictness of regulation has real business impacts.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
Noun
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Their lips, jaws, and the interior of their maws are—in terms of rigidity—akin to a ceramic dinner plate.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
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Rigid rules These findings describe not just inefficiency but also the rigidity of a system that should adapt more flexibly under climate stress.—
David Sathuluri,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Then there is the harshness of space.—
Sven Bilén,
The Conversation,
16 June 2026
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As with many spills and stains, baking soda offers a mild stain-lifting power without the harshness of stronger cleaners.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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The top prospect’s irregular playing time is a product of his positional inflexibility mixed with the construction of the current roster.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
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The frustration is in the inflexibility.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Frankie wanted to rid himself of rigidness.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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