harshly

adverb

harsh·​ly
Synonyms of harshlynext
: in a harsh manner:
a
: coarsely to the touch : roughly
rubbed herself harshly with a towelI. V. Morris
b
: offensively to the senses : disagreeably
houses on the far side, harshly white in this straight hard glareThomas Wood †1950
c
: unfeelingly to the sensibilities : rigorously, cruelly
harshly limits the freedom of the creative imaginationPhilip Toynbee
he was made prisoner and harshly treatedE. M. Coulter
d
: ungracefully by aesthetic standards : crudely
a number of his canvases are slightly repellent—notably one of a harshly drawn, bedraggled mother and childR. M. Coates

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“Harshly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harshly. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.

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