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 EwingSynonyms
Examples of severity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The identity of the suspect nor information about the severity of his injuries were immediately released.
—Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 6 Apr. 2024
Another possibility, Morris says, is that the severity of symptoms is affected by different experiences during pregnancy and in the first few months of life.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
Like so many psychological conditions, sociopathy exists on a severity spectrum.
—Patric Gagne, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
In their most recent study, Fairfax and fellow researchers used remote sensing to examine the burn severity of three megafires that burned in the Rocky Mountains in 2020.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Depending on the type and severity of urinary incontinence, a healthcare provider may prescribe behavioral modification, weight loss, or physical therapy or recommend medication or surgical management.
—Madeleine Burry, Health, 30 Mar. 2024
And yet, as Julie Zerbo, the founder of The Fashion Law website, pointed out, the details and severity of the offense may differ, but the story lines are broadly the same.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
The severity of a rattlesnake bite can vary depending on the size of the snake, the amount of venom injected and the location of the bite.
—The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024
However, depending on the severity, duration, and cause, healthcare providers may prescribe other medications, such as steroids or immunosuppressants.
—Karen Pallarito, Health, 24 Mar. 2024
Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 6 Apr. 2024
Another possibility, Morris says, is that the severity of symptoms is affected by different experiences during pregnancy and in the first few months of life.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
Like so many psychological conditions, sociopathy exists on a severity spectrum.
—Patric Gagne, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
In their most recent study, Fairfax and fellow researchers used remote sensing to examine the burn severity of three megafires that burned in the Rocky Mountains in 2020.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Depending on the type and severity of urinary incontinence, a healthcare provider may prescribe behavioral modification, weight loss, or physical therapy or recommend medication or surgical management.
—Madeleine Burry, Health, 30 Mar. 2024
And yet, as Julie Zerbo, the founder of The Fashion Law website, pointed out, the details and severity of the offense may differ, but the story lines are broadly the same.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
The severity of a rattlesnake bite can vary depending on the size of the snake, the amount of venom injected and the location of the bite.
—The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024
However, depending on the severity, duration, and cause, healthcare providers may prescribe other medications, such as steroids or immunosuppressants.
—Karen Pallarito, Health, 24 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'severity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near severity
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/severity. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
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