diff --git a/backend/__tests__/routes/adminFeedbackWordFilterSeverity.test.js b/backend/__tests__/routes/adminFeedbackWordFilterSeverity.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a7329ce7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/__tests__/routes/adminFeedbackWordFilterSeverity.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+/**
+ * Word-filter severity vocabulary. The Settings → Moderation UI offers
+ * low / moderate / high / block, but the validator only accepted the
+ * unrelated mild / moderate / severe set, so 3 of the 4 levels — including
+ * "block", the strongest tier — 400'd on every add.
+ */
+const path = require('path');
+const fs = require('fs');
+const os = require('os');
+
+process.env.NODE_ENV = 'test';
+process.env.TEST_DATABASE_PATH = path.join(
+  fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'picpeak-wfsev-')), 'db.sqlite',
+);
+process.env.JWT_SECRET = process.env.JWT_SECRET || 'wfsev-test-secret';
+process.env.STORAGE_PATH = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'picpeak-wfsev-storage-'));
+
+const request = require('supertest');
+const express = require('express');
+const cookieParser = require('cookie-parser');
+const { bootCrmDb, seedMinimal, assignAdminRole, mintAdminToken } = require('../integration/helpers/crmDb');
+
+describe('word filter severity levels', () => {
+  let db; let cleanup; let app; let superTok;
+
+  const auth = (req) => req.set('Authorization', `Bearer ${superTok}`);
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    ({ db, cleanup } = await bootCrmDb());
+    const { adminId: superId } = await seedMinimal(db);
+    await assignAdminRole(db, superId, 'super_admin');
+    superTok = mintAdminToken(superId);
+
+    app = express();
+    app.use(express.json());
+    app.use(cookieParser());
+    app.use('/api/admin/feedback', require('../../src/routes/adminFeedback'));
+  }, 120000);
+
+  afterAll(async () => { if (cleanup) await cleanup(); });
+
+  it.each(['low', 'moderate', 'high', 'block'])('accepts severity "%s"', async (severity) => {
+    const word = `zzsev${severity}`;
+    const res = await auth(request(app).post('/api/admin/feedback/word-filters'))
+      .send({ word, severity });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+    const row = await db('feedback_word_filters').where({ word }).first();
+    expect(row.severity).toBe(severity);
+  });
+
+  it('still rejects a severity outside the vocabulary', async () => {
+    const res = await auth(request(app).post('/api/admin/feedback/word-filters'))
+      .send({ word: 'zzsevbogus', severity: 'catastrophic' });
+
+    expect(res.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(res.body.errors.some((e) => e.path === 'severity')).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('blocks a comment matching a "block" filter and only flags a "low" one', async () => {
+    const moderation = require('../../src/services/feedbackModeration');
+    moderation.clearCache();
+
+    const blocked = await moderation.moderateText('this is zzsevblock speech');
+    expect(blocked.approved).toBe(false);
+    expect(blocked.violations.map((v) => v.word)).toEqual(['zzsevblock']);
+
+    const flagged = await moderation.moderateText('this is zzsevlow speech');
+    expect(flagged.approved).toBe(true);
+    expect(flagged.flagged).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/backend/src/services/feedbackModeration.js b/backend/src/services/feedbackModeration.js
index 73da47ce..df9babb0 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/feedbackModeration.js
+++ b/backend/src/services/feedbackModeration.js
@@ -66,17 +66,20 @@ class FeedbackModerationService {
         }
       }
       
-      // Check for severe violations
-      if (violations.some(v => v.severity === 'severe')) {
+      // Check for blocking violations. 'severe' is the legacy vocabulary the
+      // validator used to accept before it was aligned with the UI's
+      // low/moderate/high/block levels — rows stored under it still apply.
+      const isBlocking = (v) => v.severity === 'block' || v.severity === 'severe';
+      if (violations.some(isBlocking)) {
         return {
           approved: false,
           reason: 'Content contains prohibited words',
-          violations: violations.filter(v => v.severity === 'severe')
+          violations: violations.filter(isBlocking)
         };
       }
-      
-      // Check for moderate violations
-      if (violations.some(v => v.severity === 'moderate')) {
+
+      // Check for moderate/high violations
+      if (violations.some(v => v.severity === 'moderate' || v.severity === 'high')) {
         return {
           approved: false,
           reason: 'Content requires moderation',
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ class FeedbackModerationService {
         };
       }
       
-      // Check for mild violations (may just flag for review)
+      // Check for low-severity violations (may just flag for review)
       if (violations.length > 0) {
         return {
           approved: true,
diff --git a/backend/src/utils/feedbackValidation.js b/backend/src/utils/feedbackValidation.js
index bd684ab7..2dc77b69 100644
--- a/backend/src/utils/feedbackValidation.js
+++ b/backend/src/utils/feedbackValidation.js
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ const validateWordFilter = [
     .withMessage('Word must be between 2 and 100 characters'),
   body('severity')
     .optional()
-    .isIn(['mild', 'moderate', 'severe'])
+    .isIn(['low', 'moderate', 'high', 'block'])
     .withMessage('Invalid severity level')
 ];