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
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
Depending on the severity of the symptoms, your primary care doctor can refer you to a gastroenterologist or a colorectal surgeon for a closer look.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
An official cause for the emergency has yet to be disclosed, though Foxx has alluded to the severity of his condition in the months since.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
According to Chicago Cornea, recovery time for an orbital fracture could range anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the severity of the fracture.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
The severity of symptoms depends on a person’s health status; pneumonia is much tougher to manage and presents with more severe symptoms in those who are immunocompromised or have underlying lung conditions.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for severity 
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Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
An official cause for the emergency has yet to be disclosed, though Foxx has alluded to the severity of his condition in the months since.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
According to Chicago Cornea, recovery time for an orbital fracture could range anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the severity of the fracture.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
The severity of symptoms depends on a person’s health status; pneumonia is much tougher to manage and presents with more severe symptoms in those who are immunocompromised or have underlying lung conditions.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for severity
Dictionary Entries Near severity
Cite this Entry
“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/severity. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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