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
Foo Fighters followed suit in May, severing ties with their kit man, Josh Freese, to pursue a different creative direction following the death of their longtime drummer, Taylor Hawkins, in 2022.
—
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Loro Piana has reaffirmed its commitment to improving its supply chain auditing, severing ties with suppliers found in violation of its agreements, as did Valentino, Giorgio Armani and Dior.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Before probation officers could carry out Keesler’s order and fix a monitor to Altunar’s leg, ICE agents again took him into custody — this time severing him from his lawyer for about a month, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2025
When the internet in Iran is cut off, the images freeze or disappear, severing Maryam’s bond with her homeland.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Australia has expelled an ambassador for the first time since World War II, ordering the Iranian envoy to leave the country and severing diplomatic relations after Canberra's security agencies concluded that Tehran had directed at least two antisemitic attacks in Australian cities.
—Robert Birsel
shane Croucher
amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
When such imagery is detected, the entire screen is blocked, and any communications apps are closed, severing calls or live streams.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
No matter how volatile a breakup is, severing those ties can often be difficult, and parents are not quite sure how to juggle the need to interact with their co-parent.
—Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Vineland is apt for our moment since the plot is set in motion by Reagan’s slashing of the federal government, unwittingly severing millions of connections, setting in motion events beyond anyone’s control, resurrecting the suppressed.
—Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Loro Piana has reaffirmed its commitment to improving its supply chain auditing, severing ties with suppliers found in violation of its agreements, as did Valentino, Giorgio Armani and Dior.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Before probation officers could carry out Keesler’s order and fix a monitor to Altunar’s leg, ICE agents again took him into custody — this time severing him from his lawyer for about a month, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2025
When the internet in Iran is cut off, the images freeze or disappear, severing Maryam’s bond with her homeland.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
Australia has expelled an ambassador for the first time since World War II, ordering the Iranian envoy to leave the country and severing diplomatic relations after Canberra's security agencies concluded that Tehran had directed at least two antisemitic attacks in Australian cities.
—Robert Birsel
shane Croucher
amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
When such imagery is detected, the entire screen is blocked, and any communications apps are closed, severing calls or live streams.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
No matter how volatile a breakup is, severing those ties can often be difficult, and parents are not quite sure how to juggle the need to interact with their co-parent.
—Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Vineland is apt for our moment since the plot is set in motion by Reagan’s slashing of the federal government, unwittingly severing millions of connections, setting in motion events beyond anyone’s control, resurrecting the suppressed.
—Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for severing
Verb
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The train then collided with the trailer, separating it from the cab, breaking it into multiple parts and rolling it.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
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New Jersey is creating a stand-alone Department of Veterans Affairs, separating it from military operations in a move aimed at improving oversight of services for veterans and their families.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That includes a subdivision map dividing the property into six lots and a request to replace the current zoning with a custom zoning plan tailored to The Village.—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
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The network originated as an effort to accelerate the collapse of modern society by exacerbating social tensions and dividing society through violence, and has roots in white supremacy and fascism, Kriner said.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Part of what made that deal possible was Chelsea’s owners splitting their women’s team from their men’s and selling a minority stake.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
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In her later years, Keating was a snowbird, splitting her time between Massachusetts and Palm Springs, California.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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My ultra earbuds keeps disconnecting randomly, and also first connection is problematic.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Sep. 2025
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The four-wheel-drive system features a disconnecting rear axle to improve fuel economy.—
Mark Phelan,
Freep.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Severing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/severing. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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