💢 Harshness 🌧️ Severe weather

inclemency

9.9

Being very strict and harsh toward other people

noun
/ɪnˈklɛmənsi/

Formal

: inclemencia

The judge's inclemency surprised everyone, as many had expected a lighter sentence.

Examples

Many residents criticized the mayor's inclemency in dealing with minor infractions.
Her inclemency in judgment often led to harsh decisions.
His inclemency made him feared by his subordinates in the company.
The teacher's inclemency surprised the students.
The coach's inclemency during training left no room for excuses among the players.
Her inclemency towards late submissions created an atmosphere of fear among the students.
The manager's inclemency in enforcing rules ensured a disciplined work environment.

Synonyms

severity

vsinclemency

11 6.4

Being very strict and harsh when judging or punishing people

is the same strictness but focused broadly on character and behavior rather than punishment

harshness

vsinclemency

6 4.1

Very severe or unkind treatment that causes harm

is focused on excessive sternness in character or judgment rather than causing physical distress

hardness

vsinclemency

4 6.3

Lack of feeling or kindness in someone's behavior

is about excessive sternness or severity rather than emotional coldness

rigor

vsinclemency

Formal

4 7.2

The quality of being very strict in rules or discipline that allows little freedom

is more about excessive sternness across personality and judgment than rule application

stiffness

vsinclemency

1 5.3

A strict way of acting or thinking that does not change

is about excessive sternness rather than mere rigidity or lack of flexibility

rigorousness

vsinclemency

7.5

Being very strict and careful about rules or details

is about excessive sternness in character or judgment without the extra carefulness

rigourousness

vsinclemency

7.9

Being very strict about rules and making people follow them

is about excessive sternness in character or judgment, not only rule enforcement

Antonyms

leniency

26 4.6

Not being strict when judging or punishing someone

mildness

1 3.3

A gentle, calm way of treating people

How Severe

severity

11 6.4

inclemency

Formal

9.9

harshness

6 4.1

sternness

1 5.1

leniency

26 4.6

Surface Forms

inclemency singular

inclemencies plural

Morphology

inclemency = inclement (semi-transparent) = in + clement + ency

Built by standard suffixation from the adjective 'inclement', but the sense of personal sternness is a more abstract/metaphorical extension that may not be immediately obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Inclemency comes from the Latin parts in- 'not' and clementia 'mildness' or 'mercy'. So it is the opposite of clemency, meaning a lack of mercy or softness, which is why it describes very harsh or severe behavior.