noun

1. excessive sternness

e.g. severity of character
the harshness of his punishment was inhuman
the rigors of boot camp

Synonym: severityseverenessharshnessrigorrigourrigorousnessinclemencyhardnessstiffness

2. something hard to endure

e.g. the asperity of northern winters

Synonym: asperitygrimnesshardshiprigorrigourseverityseverenessrigorousness