1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
there was a harshness about her voice that made her an unlikely but surprisingly evocative singer of torch songs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in severity
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)
was surprised at the harshness of the choirmaster's criticism, since he was usually pretty easygoing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of harshness
Then there is the harshness of space.
—
Sven Bilén, The Conversation, 16 June 2026
As with many spills and stains, baking soda offers a mild stain-lifting power without the harshness of stronger cleaners.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
There is no lag to anticipate and no visual harshness pulling attention away from the music.
—William Jones, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The texture is firm and mouth-filling, with the higher alcohol providing structure without harshness.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
If you're drawn to warmer tones, consider a softer tone like terracotta or peachy neutrals that offer a similar look without the harshness.
—Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 25 May 2026
Watching people be nice to each other brings the heart rate down and fulfills by proxy our need to shed the harshness of the day.
—Sarah Wang, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
The harshness or relentlessness of weather can turn friends to lovers, can cause others to lose their minds, can provoke travel across continents, can cancel plans, can reroute rivers, can flood civilizations, can incite both panic and delight, can wash away a life’s work, can set fire to forests.
—Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Concrete and glass meet at sharp angles, while a curved courtyard wall softens the harshness.
—New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026
Sven Bilén, The Conversation, 16 June 2026
As with many spills and stains, baking soda offers a mild stain-lifting power without the harshness of stronger cleaners.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
There is no lag to anticipate and no visual harshness pulling attention away from the music.
—William Jones, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The texture is firm and mouth-filling, with the higher alcohol providing structure without harshness.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
If you're drawn to warmer tones, consider a softer tone like terracotta or peachy neutrals that offer a similar look without the harshness.
—Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 25 May 2026
Watching people be nice to each other brings the heart rate down and fulfills by proxy our need to shed the harshness of the day.
—Sarah Wang, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
The harshness or relentlessness of weather can turn friends to lovers, can cause others to lose their minds, can provoke travel across continents, can cancel plans, can reroute rivers, can flood civilizations, can incite both panic and delight, can wash away a life’s work, can set fire to forests.
—Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Concrete and glass meet at sharp angles, while a curved courtyard wall softens the harshness.
—New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshness
Noun
-
Add the lime juice just before serving to preserve brightness and prevent bitterness.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
-
How did someone emerge from such darkness without becoming consumed by bitterness?—
Norman B. Gildin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Jamie Lynn Spears is opening up about the severity of her daughter's 2017 near-fatal ATV accident.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
At the time, the severity of the ruling reflected the enormous scale of Lan’s fraud as well as efforts by authorities to restore investor trust.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Aguirre hoped his team would shake off nerves following the emotional opener at Azteca Stadium and show more bite in its second game against South Korea, but his team didn’t have much power behind its attack during the game’s first 45 minutes.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Nosh on lamb skewers or savor bites of sweet plantains.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Puff sleeves, a scalloped hem, lace trim, and eyelet detailing give this top a soft, feminine edge.—
Jill Layton,
PEOPLE,
19 June 2026
-
Rainwater tends to stockpile on the edges of roads.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
The result is an aesthetic that skillfully balances a variety of textures, including injecting Shou Sugi Ban custom treatments inspired by Japanese principles of wabi-sabi that typically employ elements of asymmetry, roughness, and simplicity.—
Rachel Davies,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
-
Features such as surface roughness and protruding fibers create more sites where particles can stick to the outer surface rather than passing through.—
Sumit Mandal,
The Conversation,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harshness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshness. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
