severity — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The state of being severe.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   […] the fear of God whereof ' tis written Keeper : But not the fear of punishment for sin And I can see that the uncertainty In which we act is a severity , A cruelty , amounting to injustice That nothing but God's mercy can assuage . […]

2. The degree of something undesirable; badness or seriousness.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The severity of the offence merits a long prison sentence.

Noun

1. used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather

   Synonyms

   badnesssevereness

   Broader terms

   intensityintensiveness

2. something hard to endure

   Synonyms

   asperitygrimnesshardshiprigorrigourseverenessrigorousnessrigourousness

   Broader terms

   difficultydifficultness

   Examples

   the asperity of northern winters

3. extreme plainness

   Synonyms

   austerenesssevereness

   Broader terms

   plainness

4. excessive sternness

   Synonyms

   severenessharshnessrigorrigourrigorousnessrigourousnessinclemencyhardnessstiffness

   Broader terms

   sternnessstrictness

   Examples

   severity of character

   the harshness of his punishment was inhuman

   More examples (1)

   the rigors of boot camp