harsh

adjective \ ˈhärsh \

Updated on: 18 May 2018

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

All terror activity will be met with a harsh response.

— NBC News, "Gaza protests replaced by funerals as Palestinians mark 'nakba'," 15 May 2018
The chief drawbacks are the underpadded, even somewhat harsh upper and a capacious fit that felt loose through uneven terrain.

— Outside Online, "The Best Trail Running Shoes of 2018," 15 May 2018
Calls for Iwobi to be sold in the summer seem harsh.

— SI.com, "Arsenal Forward Continues to Feel Brunt of Fan Frustrations as Supporters Call for Summer Exit," 14 May 2018
The village was motivated to enact harsher penalties due to the increasing frequency with which residents are blowing their cut grass into the streets, according to Utility Commissioner Joseph Lauro.

— anna bybee-schier, chicagotribune.com, "Franklin Park residents who clutter streets with grass, snow or trash could face hefty fines," 11 May 2018
Enforcement The commission recommended harsher penalties for rule-breakers and that the NCAA outsource the investigation and adjudication of the most serious infractions cases.

— CBS News, "Commission on College Basketball says ban NCAA cheats, end "one-and-done": AP," 25 Apr. 2018
If Mason’s sentence seems harsh, consider the case of Rosa Maria Ortega.

— michael harriot, The Root, "White Judge Sentenced to Probation for Election Fraud in Same County Where Black Woman Received 5 Years," 23 Apr. 2018
The Pennsylvania Senate Wednesday unanimously approved harsher penalties for hazing that, if passed by the House and signed by Gov. Wolf, would give the state one of the most comprehensive and toughest laws against the crime in the nation.

— susan snyder, Philly.com, "Tougher penalties for hazing likely in Pennsylvania," 18 Apr. 2018
The bill, which Conaway will bring before the committee on April 18, also implements harsh penalties for families who make simple paperwork errors.

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "Perpetuating the Cycle of Poverty," 17 Apr. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

harsh Synonyms

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

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