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
Medical professionals use blood tests and other scans to diagnose a pulmonary embolism, the clinic adds, and can treat them in a number of ways depending on the severity, including said blood thinners or other therapies and procedures.
—
Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
The severity of his injuries are unknown at this time.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
If a hearing loss is detected, it can be considered mild, moderate, severe, or profound in severity.
—Hannah Silverman, Parents, 5 Feb. 2026
Burns are classified as first, second, and third degree based on a wide range of severity.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
The severity of his injuries are unknown at this time.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
If a hearing loss is detected, it can be considered mild, moderate, severe, or profound in severity.
—Hannah Silverman, Parents, 5 Feb. 2026
Burns are classified as first, second, and third degree based on a wide range of severity.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
Noun
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Known for its hardness and high melting point, petalite is already valued in heat- and scratch-resistant glass and ceramics.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
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In one-of-a-kind high-jewelry chokers and necklaces, the design is rendered in black diamond-like carbon, or DLC—a high-tech material known for its exceptional hardness and scratch-resistance that is often used in watchmaking—and combined with diamonds and yellow gold for an avant-garde look.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And there’s little strictness about ideological consistency.—
Charles Duhigg,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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His mother’s strictness helped Harewood avoid getting caught up in selling drugs.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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According to some who knew and studied him, his rigidity masked a lack of confidence in his own judgment.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
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The changes, along with updates like an independent front suspension and a 50 percent increase in structural rigidity, helped push the Land Cruiser even further up the prestige ladder.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The tinted visor that Morgan Geekie wore for two games against the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars in January could help mute the lights’ harshness.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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Seoul 1988 Retinal Eye Cream Viral for using retinal (stronger than retinol) in a liposome delivery system for smoother texture without harshness.—
Corein Carter,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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The Red Sox could also try to move on from Masataka Yoshida, though his contract, injury history and positional inflexibility will hamper his trade value.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
16 Jan. 2026
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Roster inflexibility could further complicate matters.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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 14 Feb. 2026.
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