severity

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 exactingness, hardness, harshness, inflexibility, rigidity, rigidness, rigor, rigorousness, sternness, strictness, stringency Related Words callousness, hard-heartedness, implacability, obduracy, obdurateness, pitilessness; dourness, gruffness; asceticism, austereness, austerity, monasticism; determination, firmness, resolve, steadfastness; obstinacy, stubbornness Near Antonyms forbearance, indulgence, kindness, lenience, patience, softness, tenderness, tolerance; responsiveness, willingness; compliance, pliability, pliancy Antonyms flexibility, gentleness, laxness, mildness