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- pronunciation:
- s
ve
rih
ti
| part of speech: |
noun |
| inflections: |
severities |
| definition 1: |
degree of difficulty, pain, injury, or unpleasantness that is caused or potentially caused; seriousness.
How far they could travel depended on the severity of the winter weather conditions.Many questioned the severity of the punishment in this boy's case.The severity of the crime brought a harsh sentence.- antonyms:
- lenity
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| definition 2: |
strength; intensity.
The severity of the illness often depends on the general health of the patient. |
| definition 3: |
strictness; harshness.
She was a cross woman and disciplined the children with severity. |
| definition 4: |
plainness; austerity.
The severity of her appearance reflected the harshness of her life. |
| related words: |
asperity, violence |
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