1. excessive sternness
e.g. severity of character
the harshness of his punishment was inhuman
the rigors of boot camp
Synonym: severityseverenessharshnessrigorrigourrigourousnessinclemencyhardnessstiffness
2. something hard to endure
e.g. the asperity of northern winters
Synonym: asperitygrimnesshardshiprigorrigourseverityseverenessrigourousness