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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of severity
Yet, despite the scale and severity of the damage, workplace bullying remains underreported and frequently dismissed by human resource departments—especially when the perpetrators hold power or deliver results.
—
Jason Walker Psyd, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
The severity is often worse during the unpredictable period of perimenopause.
—Mara Santilli, Flow Space, 17 Apr. 2025
The severity of their injuries was not immediately clear.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Recalls are typically classified by severity, and while not all involve immediate danger, they are carried out as a precaution to protect public health.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Jason Walker Psyd, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
The severity is often worse during the unpredictable period of perimenopause.
—Mara Santilli, Flow Space, 17 Apr. 2025
The severity of their injuries was not immediately clear.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Recalls are typically classified by severity, and while not all involve immediate danger, they are carried out as a precaution to protect public health.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for severity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severity
Noun
-
These tests test for coliform bacteria, lead, arsenic, uranium, nitrates, sodium, chloride, fluoride, pH, hardness, sulfate, turbidity, iron, and manganese.—
Alec Janis,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2025
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Add a Magnetic Water Conditioner Like a water softener, a magnetic water conditioner controls the hardness of the water in the home.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
That property means more energy storage tends to come at the price of more rigidity.—
Saul Elbein,
The Hill,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The reality was that Mavis’s mother didn’t have much time for her, being—like the grandmother in the story—not very maternal, though, in her case, this was attributable not to rigidity but to narcissism.—
Margaret Atwood,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Some express bafflement over the stringency of the requirements.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2012
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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
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severity. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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