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
How long the drug allergy rash lasts depends on different factors, such as the severity of the reaction and other individual factors.
—
Femi Aremu, Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2025
Recalls are classified into three levels based on the severity of the risk: Class I (most serious), Class II and Class III.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
The severity of the tariffs is the start of a far-reaching overhaul of the trading system and global economic landscape that has existed since World War II.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2025
Both have a major impact on the intensity and severity of the hurricane season.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Femi Aremu, Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2025
Recalls are classified into three levels based on the severity of the risk: Class I (most serious), Class II and Class III.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
The severity of the tariffs is the start of a far-reaching overhaul of the trading system and global economic landscape that has existed since World War II.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2025
Both have a major impact on the intensity and severity of the hurricane season.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
Noun
-
Reynolds lends a hardness to Masha, at once bitter and comic, and her leading of a game of bingo at the play’s resolution restores some dark humor just as tragedy is about to strike.—
Demetrios Matheou,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Objects of varying size, shape and hardness were manipulated.—
Erico Guizzo,
IEEE Spectrum,
21 Oct. 2016
Noun
-
This is a man who lives within the rigidity of his religion, within the confines of residential school.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2025
-
Given the rigidity of the NFL’s uniform policy, the Titans could all but monopolize the use of the blue in their primary uniforms for several seasons.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Some express bafflement over the stringency of the requirements.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2012
-
The statement went on to explain that the company would increase the stringency of pre-launch testing phases.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes,
1 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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