harsh

[ hahrsh ]

/ hɑrʃ /

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See synonyms for: harsh / harsher / harshest / harshly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR harsh

2 brusque, hard, unfeeling, unkind, brutal, acrimonious, bad-tempered.

3 rough.

4 discordant, dissonant, unharmonious.

6 unesthetic.

See synonyms for harsh on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of harsh

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English harsk; cognate with German harsch,Danish harsk “rancid”

synonym study for harsh

2. See stern¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM harsh

harshly, adverbharshness, nouno·ver·harsh, adjectiveo·ver·harsh·ly, adverb

o·ver·harsh·ness, nounun·harsh, adjectiveun·harsh·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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|Vox
Cord 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|Fortune
As 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 Students
It 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 Post

This 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.
How to Hitchhike a Plane—and Survive|Kent Sepkowitz|April 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“This is not a future of harshness but of bespoke details,” production designer K.K. Barrett recently explained.
How ‘Her’ Gets the Future Right|Andrew Romano|December 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
His 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|DAILY BEAST
But 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|DAILY BEAST
His avarice was disgusting beyond words, and with avarice went a tendency to underhand dealing, harshness, and malice.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
But 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-Pattison
Mr. D., accustomed to unrestrained license of tongue, retorted with great asperity, and much harshness of language.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
He does not like children, and is satisfied to have Amy back, and is trying to atone for his former harshness.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
A 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

harsh

/ (hɑːʃ) /

adjective

rough or grating to the senses

stern, severe, or cruel

verb

(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)

Derived forms of harsh

harshly, adverbharshness, noun

Word Origin for harsh

C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Middle Low German harsch, Norwegian harsk rancid

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

harsh

OTHER WORDS FOR harsh

Origin of harsh

synonym study for harsh

OTHER WORDS FROM harsh

Words related to harsh

How to use harsh in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for harsh

Derived forms of harsh

Word Origin for harsh