severity
noun
se·ver·i·ty
sə-ˈver-ə-tē 
: the quality or state of being severe : the condition of being very bad, serious, unpleasant, or harsh
the severity of the climate
the severity of the punishment
Medication can help shorten the illness and lessen its severity.
To make all coastal residents more aware of the severity of the cyclone hazard, and to increase faith and trust in evacuation orders, the emergency personnel must educate them about the benefits of taking refuge in public shelters prior to an approaching cyclone.—
Bimal Kanti Paul
Bimal Kanti PaulA dog, like a human, is prone to two broadly defined types of bone fracture—open and closed. Within each category, breaks of varying severity may occur.—Tom Ewing
Tom EwingExamples of severity in a Sentence
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
Recent Examples on the Web
However, senior administration officials became worried that users might be able to circumvent Fable 5’s guardrails — though experts disagreed over the severity of the risk.
—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
1 July 2026
The company disputed the vulnerability's severity, while the government's position softened amid industry criticism and fears of Chinese competitors gaining an advantage.
—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Russia is starting to import gasoline from India, Reuters reported, in a sign of the severity of Moscow’s fuel shortages.
—
J.d. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
1 July 2026
The degree of severity in punishment for violators varies based on the type of force used and the amount of property damage inflicted.
—
Matthew Kelly
july 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
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Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
1 July 2026
The company disputed the vulnerability's severity, while the government's position softened amid industry criticism and fears of Chinese competitors gaining an advantage.
—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Russia is starting to import gasoline from India, Reuters reported, in a sign of the severity of Moscow’s fuel shortages.
—
J.d. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
1 July 2026
The degree of severity in punishment for violators varies based on the type of force used and the amount of property damage inflicted.
—
Matthew Kelly
july 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for severity
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/severity. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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