1
as in tough
difficult to endure
harsh conditions in the refugee camp
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loud
disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense
the harsh lighting in the cafeteria makes the food look slightly off-color
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uncomfortable
causing discomfort
the harsh northern climate
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4
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a harsh judge when it comes to drug users and especially drug dealers
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5
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
the harsh reality of failure harsh words of criticism from her music teacher
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6
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
winced at the harsh sound that the beginner violinist was making
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harsh
Briceno warns that loading on the lip tint can lead to product transfer, harsh edges, and a patchy finish.
—
Grace McCarty, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2026
Indiana endured a cold, harsh winter in January.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 29 Jan. 2026
Actor Paul Dano has broken his silence about Quentin Tarantino’s harsh criticism of him.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 29 Jan. 2026
Jonathan Carver's early writings describe Native American traditions linking this moon to winter's harshest storms.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Grace McCarty, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2026
Indiana endured a cold, harsh winter in January.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 29 Jan. 2026
Actor Paul Dano has broken his silence about Quentin Tarantino’s harsh criticism of him.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 29 Jan. 2026
Jonathan Carver's early writings describe Native American traditions linking this moon to winter's harshest storms.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harsh
Adjective
-
Going through a severe injury is probably the toughest thing an athlete can go through.—
DJ Siddiqi,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
More companies are dialing back flexible work schedules and mandating that employees return to the office part-time or full-time, forcing women into tough situations.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Video footage that appeared to be taken at the scene captured loud blasts and the sky glowing following explosions that began around midnight and lasted about two hours in the area of Diori Hamani International Airport.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Some of the loudest critics of the idea come from Indigenous communities, whose treaties with the Canadian state are older than the province of Alberta.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
When they’re installed without fixing underlying issues, homeowners can end up disappointed, uncomfortable or paying more than expected.—
Brynn Cooksey,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Lenses can crack, and frames can crack or warp in a way that makes wearing them difficult or uncomfortable.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Researchers examined containment, shielding, and redundancy measures to ensure compliance with strict safety expectations for civilian nuclear applications.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Proper skin preparation is key to making your wax sessions less painful.—
Tatayana Yomary,
Essence,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The high fevers, hospitalizations, and dehydration that these illnesses cause can be painful and disruptive—and, with vaccines, avoidable.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Using a speaker outside the stall results in reverb and echoing as the music bounces around the bathroom walls, making the sound muddy and unpleasant.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
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Given the lack of gravity, even a runny nose can turn into an extremely unpleasant experience, forcing astronauts to resort to unusual measures just to drain mucus from their nasal passages.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Enoch confronts the celestial hosts, all wearing capes of swastika red under an oppressive horizon of jutting lightning and glaring orange mountains.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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The film adapts Xianzhe Xu’s comic series and unfolds during China’s Sui Dynasty under Emperor Yang Guang’s oppressive reign.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, ‘Look of the Week’ is a regular series dedicated to unpacking the most talked about outfit of the last seven days.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
-
There are also two stepsisters, neither ugly but one quite bratty.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harsh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harsh. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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