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
Because of the severity of the injury, the child was airlifted to a local hospital, where the child remains in critical condition, according to the sheriff's office.
—
Christopher Harris, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
These wildfires are increasing in severity and duration.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan downplayed the severity of a postgame incident that saw Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt poking him in the face.
—Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Based on available data, the severity of illness appears to be moderate overall.
—Lisa Gutierrez
updated January 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
Christopher Harris, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
These wildfires are increasing in severity and duration.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan downplayed the severity of a postgame incident that saw Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt poking him in the face.
—Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Based on available data, the severity of illness appears to be moderate overall.
—Lisa Gutierrez
updated January 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
Noun
-
This footwear has been in style since last year and can easily make a nice contrasting outfit with having a dark leather uppers, feature rounded or squared toes that bring a contrasting hardness to mom jeans’ light washes and high-waist fit.—
Aaron Royce,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The ego, the hardness, the … callousness of anything that might be on the heart or the mind had literally just melted away.—
Kelsie Hoffman,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The attorneys speaking with all pointed out that this regulation is in its early days, and the strictness or severity of state reviews of health care private equity transactions is yet to be determined.—
Aman Kidwai,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Still, states vary in their strictness.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Yet behind his sternness lived a man of reflection and sensitivity, whose words and verses hinted at a gentleness rarely shown.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
13 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
And rigidity and stiffness is three.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Wren Ingram found out how a metal ring's rigidity can become an issue the hard way.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The noise cancellation is legendary, and the sound is balanced and clean, with no weird bass boosting or treble harshness.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
1 Dec. 2025
-
The harshness of the rhetoric reflects just how much Moscow stands to lose if the deal holds and TRIPP become a reality.—
Ilan Berman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Reportedly, a final deal between the U.S. and the EU was held up over Trump’s distaste for the stringency of the Digital Services Act, a regulation that aims to make the internet safer and more transparent for EU citizens and consumers.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Sep. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
And many folks thought that that was a type of dogmatism and inflexibility that was not productive.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
-
But there is also such a thing as being too good, where your own purity takes precedence over all else, leading to inflexibility and inaction.—
Shadi Hamid,
Time,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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