sever
verb
sev·er ˈse-vər 
severed; severing ˈsev-riŋ
ˈse-və-
transitive verb
: to put or keep apart : divide
especially : to remove (something, such as a part) by or as if by cutting
intransitive verb
: to become separated
Synonyms
- break up
- decouple
- disassociate
- disconnect
- disjoin
- disjoint
- dissever
- dissociate
- disunite
- divide
- divorce
- part
- ramify
- resolve
- separate
- split
- sunder
- uncouple
- unlink
- unyoke
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He severed the lowest tree limbs. His finger was severed in the accident. Activists are asking the government to sever all diplomatic relations with the country.
Recent Examples on the Web In the wake of her swatting, Sorrenti began a campaign, Drop Kiwi Farms, to sever the forum’s access to digital service providers. 
WIRED, 10 Sep. 2022 Ukraine’s nuclear regulator Energoatom on Monday blamed Russia for bombing power lines to sever the Zaporizhzhia plant from the Ukrainian electrical grid and goading nearby Ukrainian forces into attacks. Bojan Pancevski, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 The process, in which schools sever ties with one district to form a new one, can also produce segregated schools. Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2022 In an actual conflict, China could also try to sever or disable undersea cables that carry about 90 percent of the data that connects Taiwan to the world, some military experts on the island said. New York Times, 25 Aug. 2022 Despite those warnings, six of the 15 chapters in the USC Interfraternity Council so far have chosen to sever their relationship with USC. Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2022 The developer could crack or sever pipes, which could affect neighboring farms because the systems are interconnected. Dan Gearino, ABC News, 29 July 2022 In a statement to ProPublica, Warner, a Virginia Democrat, called Google’s failure to sever its relationship with RuTarget alarming. Craig Silverman, ProPublica, 4 July 2022 Madison has transformed from mother to baby-napper, stealing children and delivering them to P.A.D.R.E. to sever connections between parent and offspring. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 6 June 2022 See More
WIRED, 10 Sep. 2022 Ukraine’s nuclear regulator Energoatom on Monday blamed Russia for bombing power lines to sever the Zaporizhzhia plant from the Ukrainian electrical grid and goading nearby Ukrainian forces into attacks. Bojan Pancevski, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 The process, in which schools sever ties with one district to form a new one, can also produce segregated schools. Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2022 In an actual conflict, China could also try to sever or disable undersea cables that carry about 90 percent of the data that connects Taiwan to the world, some military experts on the island said. New York Times, 25 Aug. 2022 Despite those warnings, six of the 15 chapters in the USC Interfraternity Council so far have chosen to sever their relationship with USC. Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2022 The developer could crack or sever pipes, which could affect neighboring farms because the systems are interconnected. Dan Gearino, ABC News, 29 July 2022 In a statement to ProPublica, Warner, a Virginia Democrat, called Google’s failure to sever its relationship with RuTarget alarming. Craig Silverman, ProPublica, 4 July 2022 Madison has transformed from mother to baby-napper, stealing children and delivering them to P.A.D.R.E. to sever connections between parent and offspring. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 6 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French severer, from Latin separare — more at separate
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Kids Definition
sever
verb
sev·er ˈse-vər
severed; severing
: to cut off
… the sword … severed the tip of his tail. Brian Jacques, Redwall
Brian Jacques, Redwall Legal Definition
sever
transitive verb
sev·er ˈse-vər
severed; severing
1
: to end (a joint tenancy) by ending one or all of the unities of time, title, possession, or interest (as by conveying one tenant's interest to another party)
2
: to separate (as a contract) into different parts (as independent obligations) in order to treat each separately
3
a
: to try (criminal offenses or defendants) separately in order to avoid prejudice
b
: to split (a criminal trial) into multiple trials in order to avoid prejudice
c
: to try (civil claims or issues pleaded in the same case) separately
severs
verb
as in separates
to set or force apart disapproving parents who were willing to do anything to sever the young lovers Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- separates
- divides
- disconnects
- splits
- sunders
- resolves
- dissociates
- disassociates
- decouples
- detaches
- unlinks
- uncouples
- pulls
- divorces
- ramifies
- parts
- dissects
- isolates
- cleaves
- dissevers
- decomposes
- disjoints
- subdivides
- disunites
- dissolves
- disintegrates
- rips
- bifurcates
- disjoins
- halves
- unyokes
- fragments
- bisects
- rends
- disassembles
- segregates
- segments
- unties
- ruptures
- breaks up
- quarters
- partitions
- fractures
- unravels
- insulates
- fractionates
- rives
- breaks
- tears
- disengages
- sequesters
- disentangles
- rifts
- secludes
- dichotomizes
- breaks down
- trisects
- fragmentizes
- fragmentates
- fractionalizes
- cuts off
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unites
- links
- joins
- combines
- unifies
- connects
- associates
- assembles
- binds
- mixes
- blends
- attaches
- couples
- closes
- mingles
- fastens
- accumulates
- sticks
- fuses
- cements
- welds
- knits
- agglutinates