severity
gb/sɪvˈɛɹɪti/ us/sɪvˈɛɹɪti/
B2
英语
~ 5200
义项
0 个义项
名词
B2
property
1
degree of seriousness or badness
How serious or how bad a problem, illness, or situation is.
用法模式：
the severity of [something]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes use *severeness* instead of *severity*. The correct noun form of *severe* in this sense is *severity*. Another common mistake is using *severity about*; the usual pattern is *the severity of [something]*.
近义词
seriousness (More common everyday word; slightly broader and less formal than 'severity'.)
|
gravity (More formal and often used for very important or dangerous situations.)
反义词
mildness (Suggests that something (especially an illness or problem) is not very serious.)
|
triviality (Emphasizes that something is unimportant or not serious at all.)
搭配
the severity of the disease
|the severity of the problem
|assess the severity
|varying degrees of severity
|low to high severity
|estimate the severity
主题
health
|science
|news
|risk
|core_vocabulary
例句
- Doctors are still evaluating the severity of her injuries after the accident.
- The report warns about the increasing severity of climate-related disasters.
- We underestimated the severity of the software bug and released the update too early.
- Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms you are experiencing.
- The government did not understand the full severity of the crisis until it was too late.
学习者例句
- The severity of his illness surprised the family.
- We must check the severity of the damage to the house.
- Her doctor explained the severity of the condition in simple words.
- The severity of the storm caused many roads to close.
- They did not realize the severity of the problem at first.
unknown
B2
property
2
intensity or harshness of something
How strong and harsh something bad is, like a storm, pain, or a difficult time.
用法模式：
the severity of [an unpleasant force or condition]
常见错误：
Learners may confuse this with general 'seriousness'. For strong natural or physical forces like storms, cold, or pain, 'severity' often sounds more natural than 'seriousness'.
近义词
intensity (Focuses on the strength or power of something, not always negative, while 'severity' is usually negative.)
|
harshness (Highlights how unpleasant or hard something feels, and is a little more informal.)
反义词
gentleness (Describes a soft, kind, or mild quality, the opposite of harsh severity.)
|
mildness (Emphasizes that the force or condition (like weather or pain) is not strong or extreme.)
搭配
the severity of the storm
|the severity of the winter
|the severity of the pain
|the severity of the recession
|the severity of the drought
|increasing severity of the heat
主题
nature
|health
|economy
|weather
|core_vocabulary
例句
- The severity of the storm forced authorities to close the airport.
- Painkillers reduced the severity of his headache within an hour.
- Farmers are worried about the severity of the drought this year.
- The severity of the heat made outdoor work almost impossible.
- Economists did not predict the severity of the global downturn.
学习者例句
- The severity of the cold kept people inside.
- This medicine should lower the severity of your pain.
- We were shocked by the severity of the flood.
- The severity of the winter damaged many crops.
- They did not expect the severity of the economic crisis.
名词
C1
property
3
strictness or harshness in treatment
How strict or hard a rule, punishment, or way of controlling people is.
用法模式：
the severity of [a punishment / rule / sentence]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes say *hard punishment* when *severity of the punishment* or *harsh punishment* is more natural. Also, use *leniency* (not *softness*) as the formal opposite of *severity* in legal or official contexts.
近义词
strictness (Broadly similar but can sound less harsh; 'severity' often suggests tougher, more painful treatment.)
|
harshness (Emphasizes the hard, possibly unfair, quality of the punishment or rules.)
反义词
leniency (Highlights a soft or forgiving approach, especially in punishment or discipline.)
|
indulgence (Suggests allowing more freedom or pleasure instead of strict rules.)
搭配
the severity of the punishment
|the severity of the sentence
|the severity of the penalty
|criticize the severity
|question the severity
|full severity of the law
主题
law
|education
|behavior
|core_vocabulary
例句
- Many people questioned the severity of the sentence given to the first-time offender.
- The severity of the school’s rules led to complaints from parents.
- Judges were urged to consider the severity of the penalties for minor crimes.
- Some critics argue that the severity of the new law will not reduce crime.
- Employees were shocked by the severity of the company’s new disciplinary policy.
学习者例句
- The severity of the punishment seemed unfair to many people.
- Parents did not agree with the severity of the school’s rules.
- The judge thought about the severity of the sentence before speaking.
- Workers were worried about the severity of the new company rules.
- He was surprised by the severity of the penalty for a small mistake.
名词
formal
C1
property
4
plain, simple, or austere style
A very simple, plain style without decoration.
用法模式：
the severity of [a design / style / decoration]
常见错误：
This sense is less common. Learners may think *severity* here always means something negative, but in art and design it can be positive, suggesting clean and controlled style.
近义词
austerity (Formal; often used for very simple, almost strict style, sometimes with a cold feeling.)
|
simplicity (More general; does not always suggest the strict, almost harsh plainness implied by 'severity'.)
反义词
ornateness (Suggests a highly decorated, complex style, opposite to severe plainness.)
|
lavishness (Focuses on rich decoration and expense rather than simple restraint.)
搭配
the severity of the design
|a certain severity in her style
|architectural severity
|the severity of the décor
|a calm severity of line
主题
art
|design
|fashion
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
例句
- The severity of the building’s design gives it a powerful, modern presence.
- She dressed with a deliberate severity that matched her professional image.
- Critics praised the film’s visual severity and lack of unnecessary detail.
- The room’s severity was softened by a few colorful paintings.
- The designer is known for the severity of his minimalist collections.
学习者例句
- The severity of the room made it feel cold.
- Her clothes had a severity that some people liked.
- The house has a severity of style with white walls and no art.
- Many modern offices show a severity in their design.
- The designer chose severity instead of bright colors and patterns.
语法
相关表达
assess the severity
1/əsˈɛs ðə sɪvˈɛɹɪti/
fixed phrase
evaluate how severe something is
To judge how serious or how strong a problem, injury, or situation is.
例句
- Doctors need more tests to assess the severity of the damage to his lungs.
- Engineers were sent to assess the severity of the bridge’s structural problems.
- Before giving a penalty, the referee must assess the severity of the foul.
of varying severity
1/əv vˈɛɹiɪŋ sɪvˈɛɹɪti/
fixed phrase
with different levels of severity
Having different levels of how serious or how bad something is.
例句
- Patients reported symptoms of varying severity over several weeks.
- The city experienced power cuts of varying severity during the heatwave.
- Traffic accidents of varying severity occur on this road every year.
the full severity of the law
1/ðə fˈʊl sɪvˈɛɹɪti əv ðə lˈɔ/
fixed phrase
formal
maximum legal punishment applied
To use the strongest punishment that the law allows.
例句
- The judge promised that anyone caught cheating would face the full severity of the law.
- Officials warned that smugglers would feel the full severity of the law if they were arrested.
- Activists argued that protesters should not be hit with the full severity of the law for minor offenses.