harsh

play

adjective \ˈhärsh\

Definition of harsh

1 : having a coarse uneven surface that is rough or unpleasant to the touch granite stones harsh with lichen — Nancy Hale
2a : causing a disagreeable or painful sensory reaction : irritating harsh colors harsh lighting her harsh high-pitched voice The horseradish was too harsh for the children. : overly intense or powerful harsh chemicalsb : physically discomforting The climate there is very harsh. a harsh winter : unpleasant and difficult to accept or experience the harsh realities of poverty a harsh reminder of the importance of wearing a seat belt
3 : excessively critical or negative had some harsh words for her opponent a harsh critic : unduly severe in making demands harsh discipline
4 : lacking in aesthetic appeal or refinement : crude a harsh and sometimes unpleasant book, barren of pretty touches — Brendan Gill

harshly

adverb

harshness

noun

See harsh defined for English-language learners

See harsh defined for kids

Examples of harsh in a Sentence

The climate there is very harsh.
We've had an extremely harsh winter.
It's time for her to face the harsh realities of this situation.
The accident serves as a harsh reminder of the importance of wearing a seat belt.
The lighting in the room was very harsh.
The state has established harsh penalties for drug dealers.
She has been criticized for her harsh treatment of his students.
He was sentenced to a harsh prison term.
He had harsh words for his opponent.
She has faced some extremely harsh criticism.

Recent Examples of harsh from the Web

Strapped for cash after 3 years of austerity budgets, Brazilian scientists are bracing for an even harsher year ahead.

— herton escobar, Science | AAAS, "Cuts imperil Brazil’s stake in astronomy observatories," 17 July 2017
There is obviously a distinct impact of harsh immigration policies on black immigrants, but both groups face criminalization, economic inequality, lack of access to adequate health care, and educational inequities.

— Longreads, "An Unforgiving Legal System Welcomes Black Immigrants to America," 10 July 2017
The Bold Type also stars Katie Stevens and Meghann Fahy as Jane and Sutton, respectively, who, along with Kat, experience the harsh realities of the magazine world.

— peggy truong, Cosmopolitan, "The Bold Type Season Premiere Will Include This Very Important Meeting About Retweets and Herpes," 10 July 2017
William H. Pate drew a short straw in life — born in Mississippi in 1845, dead at 16 during the harsh winter of 1861-62 with hundreds of other Confederate soldiers stationed at a Rebel camp in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

— james bruggers, The Courier-Journal, "Scientist asks Gov. Bevin for help to exhume Confederate soldier in Hopkinsville casket," 6 July 2017
Meanwhile, states in the north and northwest could see their fortunes mildly boosted by warming, with farming yields rising thanks to shorter winters and less need to ward off harsh cold in homes.

— paul voosen, Science | AAAS, "Here’s how much climate change is going to cost your county," 29 June 2017
The intent is to give people a place to get out of the harsh winter elements.

— staff report, The Aegis, "Hope for the Homeless fashion show raises $1,000 for shelter," 29 June 2017
But that didn't stop the game from delivering the same harsh lesson U of L has learned time and time again, one on the dangerous volatility of baseball.

— danielle lerner, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville's loss to Florida a harsh lesson in the volatility of baseball," 21 June 2017
Huge clouds of smog—created by coal fire and fog—made seeing runway lights nearly impossible in harsh weather.

— juquai mcduffie, Popular Mechanics, "How Streaks of Flame Helped WWII-Era Fighters Land," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'harsh.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of harsh

Middle English harsk, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian harsk harsh

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of harsh

rough, harsh, uneven, rugged, scabrous mean not smooth or even. rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface. a rough wooden board harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch. a harsh fabric that chafes the skin uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality. an old house with uneven floors rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel. a rugged landscape scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface. a scabrous leaf

HARSH Defined for English Language Learners

harsh

play

adjective

Definition of harsh for English Language Learners

: unpleasant and difficult to accept or experience
: having an unpleasant or harmful effect because of great strength or force : too intense or powerful
: severe or cruel : not kind

HARSH Defined for Kids

harsh

play

adjective \ˈhärsh\

Definition of harsh for Students

harsher

;

harshest

1 : causing physical discomfort a harsh climate
2 : having an unpleasant or harmful effect often because of great force or intensity a harsh sound a harsh soap
3 : severe or cruel : not kind or lenient harsh punishment