asperity

1 a harsh or sharp quality doesn't like the asperity of most experimental music Synonyms of asperity acerbity, acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimoniousness, acrimony, acuteness, edge, bite, bitterness, harshness, keenness, poignance, poignancy, pungency, roughness, sharpness, tartnessWords Related to asperity ginger, punch, spice, tang; raucousness, severeness, severity, shrillness, virulence, vitriol; cattiness, maliciousness; pointedness, thorninessNear Antonyms of asperity gentleness, kindlinessAntonyms of asperity 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 of asperity acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimony, bile, bitterness, cattiness, corrosiveness, mordancy, tartness, virulence, virulency, vitriolWords Related to asperity 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 of asperity 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 of asperity adversity, difficulty, hardness, hardship, rigorWords Related to asperity 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 of asperity advantage, break, opportunity