noun (n)

• used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather(noun.attribute)

  Synonym:
  badness, severeness
  

  source: wordnet30
• something hard to endure(noun.attribute)

  Synonym:
  asperity, grimness, hardship, rigor, rigorousness, rigour, rigourousness, severeness
  

  source: wordnet30
• extreme plainness(noun.attribute)

  Synonym:
  austereness, severeness
  

  source: wordnet30
• excessive sternness(noun.attribute)

  Example:
  Severity of character.
  

  Synonym:
  hardness, harshness, inclemency, rigor, rigorousness, rigour, rigourousness, severeness, stiffness
  

  source: wordnet30
• The quality or state of being severe.(noun)

  source: webster1913