severe ties with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severe ties with" is not correct in English; it should be "sever ties with." You can use it when discussing the act of cutting off or ending a relationship or connection with someone or something.
Example: "After the scandal, the company decided to sever ties with the controversial influencer."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"We went to the meeting yesterday with Rod and asked for his resignation, and for him to severe ties with the club, he refused," added Kane at a meeting of Hibs fans on Friday.

BBC

He details what he misses from a community that he personally did not choose to severe ties with, and the unpredictable casualties of estrangement.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

With Theresa May, the pitch is for a hard Brexit and a closing of the borders to EU-directed immigration flows: a severe severing of ties, that is, with both the institutions of the European Union and with its people.

Huffington Post

In the presence of political conflicts, if local cadres have formed close informal ties with officials at higher authorities, they are less likely to face political attacks, especially severe attacks.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Those with close ties with the government?

The Economist

Such emotional ties with technology have precedent.

The New York Times

They retain close ties with the island.

The Economist

Kazakhstan has close ties with Moscow.

The New York Times

And are ties with Britain rather better?

The Economist

Damaged ties with Turkey are not improving.

The New York Times

Last month Myanmar restored diplomatic ties with North Korea.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, use the phrase "sever ties with" instead of "severe ties with". "Sever" functions as the verb, meaning to cut off.

Common error

Avoid using "severe" as a verb. "Severe" is an adjective that describes something harsh or extreme. The correct verb to use when ending a relationship is "sever".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severe ties with" is grammatically questionable. Ideally should be "sever ties with". When corrected, it acts as a verb phrase, indicating the action of ending a connection or relationship.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "severe ties with" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct and commonly accepted phrase is "sever ties with". As noted by Ludwig, the proper verb is "sever", not the adjective "severe". While examples exist using the incorrect form, it's advisable to use "sever ties with" in formal and professional contexts to maintain grammatical accuracy. Using alternative phrases such as ""cut ties with"" or ""break ties with"" can provide clarity and avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sever connections with

Replaces "ties" with "connections", offering a slightly more formal tone.

cut ties with

Uses a more common and informal idiom, "cut ties", instead of "severe ties".

break ties with

Similar to "cut ties", but with a slightly different nuance.

end relations with

A more formal way to express the termination of a relationship.

terminate connections to

Emphasizes a complete and formal ending of connections.

disrupt relationships with

Focuses on causing a disturbance or break in existing relationships.

weaken bonds with

Suggests a gradual reduction in the strength of the relationship.

distance oneself from

Describes the act of creating emotional or physical separation.

dissolve alliances with

Specifically refers to ending formal agreements or partnerships.

relinquish associations with

Implies a voluntary giving up of connections or affiliations.

FAQs

What is the correct phrase, "severe ties with" or "sever ties with"?

The correct phrase is "sever ties with". The word "sever" is a verb meaning to cut off or end a relationship, while "severe" is an adjective meaning harsh or extreme.

What does "sever ties with" mean?

"Sever ties with" means to completely end a relationship or connection with someone or something.

What are some alternatives to "sever ties with"?

Alternatives include "cut ties with", "break ties with", or "end relations with".

How can I use "sever ties with" in a sentence?

Example: "After the scandal, the company decided to sever ties with the controversial influencer."