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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of severity
It must be noted that this week’s winter weather event paled in comparison in terms of the severity brought to Texas by Uri.
—
David Blackmon, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
The wildfire was among multiple, including the larger Palisades Fire, that broke out on Jan. 7 amid dry, offshore winds and climate change that Earth scientists believe has increased the frequency, size and severity of wildfires.
—Maggie Vespa, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2025
Burning such fires to reduce the load of underbrush that could feed wildfires can help reduce fire severity and protect nearby areas.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
That could include an examination of the demographics of people convicted of crimes in the county, particularly the severity of their charges sentences in relation to other races accused of similar acts.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for severity 
David Blackmon, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
The wildfire was among multiple, including the larger Palisades Fire, that broke out on Jan. 7 amid dry, offshore winds and climate change that Earth scientists believe has increased the frequency, size and severity of wildfires.
—Maggie Vespa, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2025
Burning such fires to reduce the load of underbrush that could feed wildfires can help reduce fire severity and protect nearby areas.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
That could include an examination of the demographics of people convicted of crimes in the county, particularly the severity of their charges sentences in relation to other races accused of similar acts.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
Noun
-
Test strips were again used to evaluate the hardness of the water once the testing period concluded.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Nov. 2024
-
Quantum annealing: This term is borrowed from annealing, a process that uses heat to alter the physical or chemical properties of a metal, glass, or plastic film to increase ductility and reduce hardness.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
30 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Storytelling is another arena where the rigidity of old is giving way to much greater flexibility and choice that consumers have at their fingertips.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
10 Jan. 2025
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That’s likely because of his angular pickup’s rigidity.—
Carlton Reid,
WIRED,
15 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The statement went on to explain that the company would increase the stringency of pre-launch testing phases.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes,
1 Oct. 2024
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This can be done without financial stringencies by redirecting a fraction of the trillions of dollars spent on the military-industrial-security state.—
Armstrong Williams,
Baltimore Sun,
12 May 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near severity
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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