severely

adverb

Definition of severelynext
1
as in harshly
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering the building was severely damaged by the explosion

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in extremely
to a great degree the rescued mountain climbers were severely dehydrated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of severely The attacks and the air raid alerts that accompany them have severely disrupted life in the city, forcing millions to constantly seek shelter and paralyzing the capital’s businesses and transport networks. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026 While much of the AI safety debate has centered on losing control of AI, Altman said restricting access to AI too severely in the name of safety could be harmful too. — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026 The Livingston Food Resource Center, a local food bank, claimed its operations were severely affected by the production in an official statement. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 By the late 1500s, the once vigorous Ming was severely eroding. — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026 At a time when exports from their home markets have been severely constrained, such international investments are only increasing in importance, helping Gulf producers meet customer demand and benefit from higher prices. — semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026 The tide began to turn with another momentous California ballot initiative—Proposition 13, in 1978, which severely limited property taxes. — Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026 That distinction matters in a case involving absent or severely abnormal kidneys and bladder, such as the one described in an August Gwen Faulkenberry column. — Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026 That has severely disrupted daily life in Ukraine’s largest city, which, like much of the country, is bisected by the broad Dnipro River. — Constant Méheut, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severely
  1. harshly
  2. extremely
  3. oppressively
  4. terribly
  5. brutally
  6. incredibly
  7. hard
  8. badly
Adverb
  • But their complaints come as Lecornu's government seeks to rein in public spending to appease skittish bond markets, which have punished France more harshly than many of its peers this year, amid a global bond market rout.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • His government has also been harshly criticized for a migration crisis in Ceuta.
    — JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of harshly
Adverb
  • Eco effort D’Inghilterra’s sustainability efforts stand out at Café Romano where the ingredients are local and extremely fresh—the chef likely selected the veggies in your salad from the market that morning.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Arrests near schools or colleges have increased, though enforcement actions on campuses are extremely uncommon.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of extremely
Adverb
  • The summer had seen Europe endure an oppressively dry, hot summer, which had seen wildfires spring up across the continent.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • After a bit of a reprieve from an oppressively hot summer, another heat wave is set to scorch Southern California this week.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppressively
Adverb
  • Susanna Moore is terribly important to us, more so than any of Hemingway’s gallant girls.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The Nazis employed the V-2 heavily during this time, but the rocket was not terribly accurate.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of terribly
Adverb
  • It was forgotten by the time Banks ran around the field celebrating, but a brutally slow start made the first quarter utterly forgettable.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • When three bodies are found brutally torn apart in a house, Meg (Deborah Ann Woll) is informed by Ian (Will Hochman), the detective working the case, that one of them is her dad, who has been missing for 36 years.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of brutally
Adverb
  • The rooms are incredibly cozy, with gas fireplaces, a pull-out couch, and framed images of different landmarks around the Presidio.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • His incredibly sharp eye for talent coupled with strong instincts and deep relationships are a dynamic combination for artist management.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of incredibly
Adverb
  • And as direct as the ad is (more on it in a moment), the film goes even harder.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Beshear has also campaigned and advertised hard for Democratic candidate Zach Dembo, who is taking on GOP candidate Ralph Alvarado in the open 6th District seat around Lexington.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of hard
Adverb
  • The extraordinary female characters at the heart of the show will be pushed to extremes, behave deliciously badly and have a whole lot of fun along the way.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
  • But few could have anticipated just how badly the film would bomb.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of badly

Browse Nearby Words

severed
severely
severeness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Severely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severely. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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