asperity

1 a harsh or sharp quality doesn't like the asperity of most experimental music Synonyms acerbity, acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimoniousness, acrimony, acuteness, edge, bite, bitterness, harshness, keenness, poignance, poignancy, pungency, roughness, sharpness, tartnessRelated Words ginger, punch, spice, tang; raucousness, severeness, severity, shrillness, virulence, vitriol; cattiness, maliciousness; pointedness, thorninessNear Antonyms gentleness, kindlinessAntonyms mildness, softness

2 biting sharpness of feeling or expression she responded with such asperity that we knew she was deeply offended by the question Synonyms acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimony, bile, bitterness, cattiness, corrosiveness, mordancy, tartness, virulence, virulency, vitriolRelated Words gruffness, harshness, hostility, relentlessness, severity, sternness, vehemence; coldness, crossness, discourteousness, iciness, impoliteness, incivility, nastiness, rudeness, sourness, surliness, ungraciousness; anger, animosity, gall, jaundice, malevolence, malice, rancor, scorn, spite, spleen, venom, vindictiveness; jealousy, pique, resentment, sour grapesNear Antonyms civility, cordiality, courtesy, diplomacy, geniality, graciousness, kindness, politeness, tactfulness; compassion, softness, sweetness, sympathy, tenderness, warmth; oiliness, smoothness, suaveness, suavity, unctuousness, urbanity

3 something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal as a physically challenged person, he has encountered more than his share of asperities on the road to success Synonyms adversity, difficulty, hardness, hardship, rigorRelated Words discomfort, inconvenience, nuisance; affliction, trial, tribulation; knock, misfortune, mishap, tragedy; bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, handicap, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, pons asinorum, rub, shackle, snag, stop, trammel; block, chain, deterrent, encumbrance, fetter, inhibition; humpNear Antonyms advantage, break, opportunity