harsh
ungentle and unpleasant in action or effect: harsh treatment; harsh manners.
grim or unpleasantly severe; stern; cruel; austere: a harsh life; a harsh master.
physically uncomfortable; desolate; stark: a harsh land.
unpleasant to the ear; grating; strident: a harsh voice; a harsh sound.
unpleasantly rough, ragged, or coarse to the touch: a harsh surface.
jarring to the eye or to the esthetic sense; unrefined; crude; raw: harsh colors.
unpleasant to the taste or sense of smell; bitter; acrid: a harsh flavor; a harsh odor.
Origin of harsh
1synonym study For harsh
Other words for harsh
2 | brusque, hard, unfeeling, unkind, brutal, acrimonious, bad-tempered |
3 | rough |
4 | discordant, dissonant, unharmonious |
6 | unesthetic |
Other words from harsh
- harshly, adverb
- harshness, noun
- o·ver·harsh, adjective
- o·ver·harsh·ly, adverb
- o·ver·harsh·ness, noun
- un·harsh, adjective
- un·harsh·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use harsh in a sentence
The oil and gas industry has found itself under a harsh spotlight as concern over climate change increases across the world.
On climate change, oil and gas companies have a long way to go | David Roberts | September 25, 2020 | VoxCord cutting hasn’t had as harsh an impact on cable TV providers, however, because most are also among the top providers of broadband home Internet service.
Cord cutting is breaking records during the pandemic | Aaron Pressman | September 21, 2020 | FortuneAs small communities, new research shows, some bacteria can withstand that harsh environment.
If bacteria stick together, they can survive for years in space | Jonathan Lambert | September 18, 2020 | Science News For StudentsIt was a tongue-in-cheek attempt to make a point about the harsh tone of the negotiations in Washington.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump | Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner | September 16, 2020 | Washington PostThis was particularly exacerbated when India went into an over two-month harsh lockdown on March 25, one of the strictest in the world.
The Modi government says it has no data on migrant jobs lost to Covid-19 | Manavi Kapur | September 14, 2020 | Quartz
Simply stated, the harshness of the elements conspires to help, rather than hinder, the lucky few.
“This is not a future of harshness but of bespoke details,” production designer K.K. Barrett recently explained.
The sweetness cuts through the usual harshness of Vodka and leaves a cinnamon taste on the tongue.
The Appeal of Cinnabon Vodka and the Rise of Flavored Vodkas | Daniel Gross | November 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTHis skill as a guitarist was obscured by the deliberate harshness and sharp edge that characterize heavy metal.
Don’t Blame Spider Bite for Felling Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman | Kent Sepkowitz | May 5, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTBut did he expect the harshness of the criticism from the like of Fox News?
Dad: Why I Let My 18-Month-Old Daughter Play With Gorillas | Tom Sykes | September 24, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTHis avarice was disgusting beyond words, and with avarice went a tendency to underhand dealing, harshness, and malice.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonBut wise and successful as were his methods, the glory of his rule was darkened by his harshness and greed.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonMr. D., accustomed to unrestrained license of tongue, retorted with great asperity, and much harshness of language.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousHe does not like children, and is satisfied to have Amy back, and is trying to atone for his former harshness.
The Cromptons | Mary J. HolmesA positive attitude is good, and should be encouraged, but harshness ought never to be used.
The value of a praying mother | Isabel C. Byrum
British Dictionary definitions for harsh
/ (hɑːʃ) /
rough or grating to the senses
stern, severe, or cruel
(tr) slang to cause (a state of elation) to be diminished or ended (esp in the phrases harsh someone's mellow and harsh someone's buzz)
Origin of harsh
1Derived forms of harsh
- harshly, adverb
- harshness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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