SEVER Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sever' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sever are divide , divorce , part , separate , and sunder . While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member. // a severed limb

Q: When might 'divide' be a better fit than 'sever'?

The synonyms divide and sever are sometimes interchangeable, but divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking. // civil war divided the nation

Q: When is it sensible to use 'divorce' instead of 'sever'?

The meanings of divorce and sever largely overlap; however, divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together. // cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

Q: When could 'part' be used to replace 'sever'?

In some situations, the words part and sever are roughly equivalent. However, part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association. // vowed never to part

Q: When would 'separate' be a good substitute for 'sever'?

The words separate and sever are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing. // separated her personal life from her career

Q: When can 'sunder' be used instead of 'sever'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sever , sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart. // a city sundered by racial conflict

sever

verb

ˈse-vər

Definition of sever

as in to separate

to set or force apart disapproving parents who were willing to do anything to sever the young lovers

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How is the word sever distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sever are divide, divorce, part, separate, and sunder. While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.

a severed limb

When might divide be a better fit than sever?

The synonyms divide and sever are sometimes interchangeable, but divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.

civil war divided the nation

When is it sensible to use divorce instead of sever?

The meanings of divorce and sever largely overlap; however, divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.

cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

When could part be used to replace sever?

In some situations, the words part and sever are roughly equivalent. However, part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.

vowed never to part

When would separate be a good substitute for sever?

The words separate and sever are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.

separated her personal life from her career

When can sunder be used instead of sever?

While in some cases nearly identical to sever, sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.

a city sundered by racial conflict

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 sever Are the social lives of cartoons and people completely severed? — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 Yet Parton never seemed to sever her connection to the places that shaped her. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026 The subpoenas issued by James are the first step in forcing Nassau and the others to sever ties with ICE. — Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Daza was in the shoulder of I-80 after the bumper fell off of his vehicle, standing outside the car, when Cache collided with him and severed an artery in his leg, killing him. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sever

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sever

Verb

The team analyzed the corridor over the long term and used seasonal-trend decomposition using LOESS, a statistical method that helped separate seasonal fluctuations from longer-term settlement.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
The bridge connects two settlements in a valley in northwest Rwanda that are separated by the river.

— Fatma Tanis, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of separate

Verb

The case has become a national cultural fixation and a social media spectacle, gripping and dividing spectators well beyond the Massachusetts courtroom where the 36-year-old mother is charged with killing her three young children.

— Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Essentially a form of computational fluid dynamics, the simulation divides the flow passages into a very large number of tiny regions and calculates things such as velocity, pressure, turbulence, and temperature throughout the component.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of divide

Verb

Commissioner Rob Manfred is credited with resolving these complex issues, a feat his predecessor Bud Selig couldn't achieve.

— Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
But if Ohtani doesn’t feel good enough to start Sunday, two extra days of rest probably aren’t to resolve the issue, making a longer leadup more likely.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of resolve

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“Sever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sever. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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