as in separating
to set or force apart
disapproving parents who were willing to do anything to sever the young lovers
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Recent Examples of severing
The Courant has reported, most colonists were not exactly mesmerized by the notion of severing ties with the mother country.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
In October, Patel said the bureau was severing its ties with SPLC, following escalating complaints from conservatives and prominent Trump allies.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The Jeep struck a semaphore pole, severing the vehicle in two.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2026
Chinese vessels have been caught secretly severing undersea communication cables in Taiwan’s waters.
—Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026
After watching his ball go into the bunker, the LIV golfer then attacked a nearby water cooler, severing the head of the club from its shaft.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Afreximbank leaned on Asian capital markets to keep lending on track after severing ties with ratings agency Fitch earlier this year.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Israeli ground troops have razed residential buildings while airstrikes have hit multiple bridges severing vital routes between southern Lebanon and the north.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
Several strikes hit the suspension bridge yesterday, severing a key new route under construction between Tehran and the city of Karaj, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported, citing a local security official.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
In October, Patel said the bureau was severing its ties with SPLC, following escalating complaints from conservatives and prominent Trump allies.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The Jeep struck a semaphore pole, severing the vehicle in two.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2026
Chinese vessels have been caught secretly severing undersea communication cables in Taiwan’s waters.
—Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026
After watching his ball go into the bunker, the LIV golfer then attacked a nearby water cooler, severing the head of the club from its shaft.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Afreximbank leaned on Asian capital markets to keep lending on track after severing ties with ratings agency Fitch earlier this year.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Israeli ground troops have razed residential buildings while airstrikes have hit multiple bridges severing vital routes between southern Lebanon and the north.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
Several strikes hit the suspension bridge yesterday, severing a key new route under construction between Tehran and the city of Karaj, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported, citing a local security official.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severing
Verb
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Charles’s timing makes the benefits of separating those roles more obvious.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
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The couple sat in a vestibule inside the Aurora immigration detention facility on a Saturday in March, staring at each other through the glass barrier separating the incarcerated from the free.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The University of Massachusetts poll, fielded among 1,000 Americans, found 74% believe there are more things uniting them than dividing them.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
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Michelle Boudreau Design mixed a white dividing wall with hedges that don't block the view of palm trees in this desert backyard.—
Kristin Hohenadel,
The Spruce,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The plant will feed on renewable power from Paraguay’s vast Itaipu dam to produce hydrogen by splitting water through electrolysis, which is then combined with nitrogen to create zero-carbon ammonia.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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The shooting has also intensified calls by conservatives to fully fund DHS through a single bill — blaming Democrats for the shutdown and arguing that splitting apart ICE and Border Patrol funding will only give the minority party leverage.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Features like front and rear locking differentials and a disconnecting front stabilizer bar help the truck crawl over obstacles that would challenge most pickups.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
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There are several natural gas marketers in the state, but the commission said Atlanta Gas Light is still responsible for the pipelines and connecting and disconnecting service.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Severing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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