harsh

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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

2 a :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 chemicals

b :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

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harshly

adverb

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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

Trump’s harsh criticism of China has led some analysts and lawyers to question whether Washington might take a tougher stance on Chinese ownership of American businesses, particularly in technology and critical infrastructure.

— david mclaughlin, Bloomberg.com, "Lattice Weighs Seeking Trump’s Intervention on China Deal," 29 Aug. 2017
Tight ends and running backs were key components, helping to move the ball in the harsh conditions in New York and New England.

— rainer sabin, AL.com, "How the coach who followed Bear Bryant still has his fingerprints on Alabama," 29 Aug. 2017
The state lowered the age that youths could be prosecuted in the adult system — where prison sentences are much harsher — from 16-years-old to 14-years-old.

— greg moran, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Juvenile crime rates plummet amid new approaches to tackling youth crime," 19 Aug. 2017
The environment was harsh, with constant wind shearing their clutch of tents.

— paul voosen, Science | AAAS, "Record-shattering 2.7-million-year-old ice core reveals start of the ice ages," 15 Aug. 2017
That the tawdry nature of the violations prompted harsher treatment than any competitive advantage that was gained would warrant seems obvious.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "U of L players share blame with Andre McGee | Tim Sullivan," 11 Aug. 2017
His official rhetoric about the law has been harsh, maximizing its faults without recognizing the health benefits of 20 million more people with insurance.

— ricardo alonso-zaldivar, The Seattle Times, "Caretaker for Obamacare? Trump’s health-care role may shift," 7 Aug. 2017
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
This nexus, though certainly full of its share of harsh realities, was, and is, one of the most beautiful mysteries of human interactions our history holds.

— taylor bruce, Southern Living, "American South and West Africa," 11 July 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

harsh Synonyms

Synonyms

bitter, brutal, burdensome, cruel, excruciating, grievous, grim, hard, hardhanded, heavy, inhuman, murderous, onerous, oppressive, rough, rugged, searing, severe, stiff, tough, trying

Antonyms

easy, light, soft

Near Antonyms

comfortable, cozy, luxurious, snug; agreeable, friendly, genial, hospitable, pleasant; peaceful, relaxing, reposeful, restful; bearable, endurable, painless, tolerable; balmy, calm, clement, gentle, mild, moderate, temperate

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