asperity

noun

ə-ˈsper-ə-tē How to pronounce asperity (audio)
Definition of asperitynext
1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality doesn't like the asperity of most experimental music

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in severity
biting sharpness of feeling or expression she responded with such asperity that we knew she was deeply offended by the question

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3
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal He overcame his share of asperities on the road to success.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of asperity Faults typically contain surface irregularities, known as asperities, which prevent smooth movement between tectonic plates. — Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025 What gives the movie much of its poignancy and power is Hart’s realization, and ours, that the asperity and regret showcased in his famous lyrics are no longer in fashion. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Oct. 2025 Advertisement On a re-read, Orwell’s narrative holds up, in large part due to the asperity of the prose and the prescient description of how fascism can creep into any society that takes freedom for granted. — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023 Her asperity has brought upon her the full flaming rage of the Twittersphere. — Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 2 Oct. 2022 Imagine Don Draper’s grasp of American psychopathology delivered with the pithy asperity of Emily Dickinson. — Megan O’Grady, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2020 By the time Keane wrote Devoted Ladies, a note of asperity had crept into her fiction. — Francine Prose, The New York Review of Books, 22 Nov. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asperity
  1. bitterness
  2. severity
  3. hardship
  4. edge
  5. hostility
  6. difficulty
  7. bite
  8. virulence
Noun
  • Mexican Americans have long risen up to defend ourselves and defy our haters, but there’s usually an underlying strain of bitterness and anger that kneecaps us at the worst possible moments.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Tens of thousands continue to come each year, yet no widespread anger or bitterness grows.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • Symptoms of the allergic reactions at AGS can vary case by case and in severity, but can include hives, angioedema (deep-swelling of the lips, eyes, tongue, and throat), wheezing, gastrointestinal distress and even fatal anaphylaxis.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • Two of these are rated critical, while 10 have been given high-severity status.
    — Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Some churches are finding new ways to pay the bills after years of financial hardship, while others are growing and thriving.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
  • The bittersweet farewell makes way for more adventures and hardships, ups and downs, to come.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 July 2026
Definition of hardship
Noun
  • The Detroit pizza features the style’s signature crown of crispy cheese around the edges, and a blanket of brick cheese.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Both the scalloped edges and adorable blue gingham print made this a top pick for me.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • Renewed hostilities in the Persian Gulf also complicate the resumption of refining in the Middle East.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • However, Democratic lawmakers have denounced the resumption of the Iran war and the return to active hostilities, despite the interim cease-fire agreement signed June 17.
    — Callum Sutherland, Time, 14 July 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • Argentina will be a significant step up in difficulty but England have enough attacking quality to trouble the reigning champions.
    — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • But in keeping with its protagonist’s difficulty staring at his feelings head-on, The Vampire Lestat—and the marketing that preceded its premiere—doesn’t start with ballads or sensual odes to far-reaching love.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
Definition of difficulty
Noun
  • The district encouraged residents to take preventative measures, as avoiding mosquito bites is the most effective way to protect oneself from West Nile virus and other illnesses spread by mosquitos.
    — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • The aforementioned allergy to things like ice cream and hamburgers, for example, is called alpha-gal syndrome, and it’s spread in the US by the bite of another tick, called the lone star.
    — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Google also mentioned that the system could do more general hypothesizing that doesn’t involve drugs, using an example of the spread of virulence genes in bacteria.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026
  • Flu has overtaken covid in infections and hospitalizations during the winter respiratory virus season, and their virulence is becoming similar.
    — Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2026
Definition of virulence

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Cite this Entry

“Asperity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asperity. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of asperity for Spanish Speakers

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