severity Definition
- 1the fact or condition of being severe
- 2the extreme degree or extent of something
Using severity: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "severity" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The severity of the storm caused widespread damage.
Example
The doctor assessed the severity of the patient's injuries.
Example
The company is facing the full severity of the economic downturn.
Example
The severity of the punishment was meant to deter others from committing the same crime.
severity Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for severity
Idioms Using severity
Example
The manager tried to soften the severity of the layoff by offering severance packages.
Example
The company took the security breach with severity and implemented new measures to prevent it from happening again.
to experience the full extent or consequences of something, usually negative
Example
The company is facing the severity of the pandemic with layoffs and budget cuts.
Phrases with severity
Example
The degree of severity of the disease varies from person to person.
Example
The severity index for the earthquake was off the charts.
Example
The teacher's severity of tone made the students realize the importance of the lesson.
Origins of severity
from Latin 'severitas', meaning 'harshness'
Summary: severity in Brief
The term 'severity' [səˈverəti] refers to the degree or extent of how severe something is. It can be used to describe the seriousness of a situation or the harshness of a punishment. The phrase 'degree of severity' is often used to indicate the level of severity of a particular event or condition. Idioms like 'to soften the severity of something' and 'to take something with severity' are used to describe ways of dealing with harsh or serious situations.