English dictionary



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English noun: severity

1. severity (attribute) used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather


Synonymsbadness, severeness


Broader (hypernym)intensity, intensiveness


Narrower (hyponym)distressfulness, foulness, raininess, seriousness

2. severity (attribute) something hard to endure


SamplesThe asperity of northern winters.


Synonymsasperity, grimness, hardship, rigor, rigorousness, rigour, rigourousness, severeness


Broader (hypernym)difficultness, difficulty


Narrower (hyponym)sternness

3. severity (attribute) extreme plainness


Synonymsaustereness, severeness


Broader (hypernym)plainness

4. severity (attribute) excessive sternness


SamplesSeverity of character.
The harshness of his punishment was inhuman.
The rigors of boot camp.


Synonymshardness, harshness, inclemency, rigor, rigorousness, rigour, rigourousness, severeness, stiffness


Broader (hypernym)sternness, strictness









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