1
as in tough
difficult to endure
harsh conditions in the refugee camp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uncomfortable
causing discomfort
the harsh northern climate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harsh
The harsh reality is that scarcity creates a structural bottleneck for both commerce and science.
—
Thomas Andersen, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2026
Taylor also mentioned harsh conditions during Chkhikvishvili's nearly yearlong confinement in Moldova, where he was arrested in 2024 on an international warrant, according to his letter to the judge.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Rosemary loves warm and dry climates and may need to be moved indoors in areas with harsh, cold winters.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Murdock and his vigilante allies have been forced underground, while Fisk imposes multiple harsh authoritarian measures on the city to cement his power.
—ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Thomas Andersen, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2026
Taylor also mentioned harsh conditions during Chkhikvishvili's nearly yearlong confinement in Moldova, where he was arrested in 2024 on an international warrant, according to his letter to the judge.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Rosemary loves warm and dry climates and may need to be moved indoors in areas with harsh, cold winters.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Murdock and his vigilante allies have been forced underground, while Fisk imposes multiple harsh authoritarian measures on the city to cement his power.
—ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harsh
Adjective
-
Each of those teams will be competing for playoff spots again, leaving the Raiders with no easy divisional wins and a tough out-of-division schedule.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The group did just enough against Sale and a tough Braves bullpen to avoid getting shut out for the third time in five games.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Consider, too, the iconic venue of Arrowhead, boasting the Guinness World Record for world’s loudest stadium.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2026
-
And the consequences of speaking up are rarely loud enough to point to.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Say goodbye to your uncomfortable bras and join the more than 200 Amazon shoppers who have snapped up this Vrcomfy Wireless Bra in the past month.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
The number is uncomfortable on purpose Strip away the brand.—
Gabriel Alin Zainescu,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
And Shuter is also reporting that Lively wanted a strict NDA during settlement negotiations, but the Baldoni camp refused.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
11 May 2026
-
Baltimore residents support stricter penalties Parents who spoke to WJZ-TV supported stricter penalties.—
Drew Aunkst,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
His two more physical characters were delightful to watch, like a navy admiral addicted to spit takes, as well as a substitute teacher subjecting his students to painful dancing.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
10 May 2026
-
The global outbreak of the coronavirus and its painful memories are very much at the forefront of peoples minds here in Tenerife, where local leaders have vehemently contested the disembarkation, and some of the local population has gathered in protest over the past few days.—
Vasco Cotovio,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Place a bowl of coffee grounds in the offending area (or, in the case of your shoes, place dry grounds in an old sock or cloth tied up and leave overnight inside the shoe) and let the grounds absorb unpleasant odors, says Rocky Vuong, founder of Calibre Cleaning Unlimited.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
-
Years later, the teenaged Daughter lets in a woman from the outside, which causes chaos in their relationship and reveals some unpleasant secrets.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Beyond its pleasures as a noir, the chronicle of Kolechko’s fight against nascent Soviet power easily reminds one of present-day Ukraine’s struggle to preserve its dignity in the face of oppressive forces.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
But the sweltering, sticky, oppressive facepalm of summer doesn’t make the other seasons more palatable.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Last year, the two teams met in London in an ugly 13-11 Denver win.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
With respect to humor’s inherent subjectivity, the appallingly ugly aesthetics of the AI overwhelm any possible comedic sensibility on display.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harsh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harsh. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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