1
as in tough
difficult to endure
harsh conditions in the refugee camp
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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
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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
The bigger eggs are also much more resistant to drying—a vital strength during the harsh climate following the extinction event.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
The team was forced to survive unbearably harsh conditions within the snowy mountains, with some even resorting to cannibalism.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
Penalties would be harsh for any business that flouts the rules.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
Trustee Christopher Gonzales was one of Tiffany Henyard's harshest critics in Thornton Township.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
The team was forced to survive unbearably harsh conditions within the snowy mountains, with some even resorting to cannibalism.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
Penalties would be harsh for any business that flouts the rules.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
Trustee Christopher Gonzales was one of Tiffany Henyard's harshest critics in Thornton Township.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harsh
Adjective
-
As the inspirational Moon glides into your 7th House of Allies, your expressive nature invites connection, and your generous spirit lightens tough conversations.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
-
One factor is that the Highlanders, a Division 3 team, haven’t faced the toughest schedule.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When, in the early nineteen-hundreds, Gibson developed the F-style flat-back, inspired by the Stradivarius violin, the idea was to produce a louder instrument that could be used for classical as well as folk music, while being assembly-line-friendly.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
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The calls were loudest for burying power lines, improving utility equipment to withstand storms and compensating businesses and individuals for losses due to outages.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As this video below from The Athletic explains, the key to making Luis Enrique’s side uncomfortable in possession is to be brave and press high.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Sutskever seemed uncomfortable with this idea.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Minnesota also implemented stricter regulations around those products because of the federal prohibition, such as where consumers can buy them.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The design process took more than five years, a negotiation between the city’s strict hydraulic requirements and the neighborhood’s shifting wishes; the result was something no one had pictured in advance.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In the following months, painful shocks radiated through her chest and back.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The images of that crash were shared widely online and caught Noah Williams' attention, triggering painful memories and taking him back to the day his own life changed forever.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The response from me is very unpleasant, and then my husband gets all uncomfortable.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Finally, a carbon filter is used to eliminate odors such as ammonia, cigarette smoke, hydrogen sulfide, and other pollutants that emit unpleasant smells.—
John R. Delaney,
PC Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Refusing to abide by aspects of the oppressive and budget-busting Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is as good a place to start as any.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The third was to free the Iranian people from a brutally oppressive government and move the country toward democratic representation reflecting the aspirations and talents of its 90 million people.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While not the pastor of the United States, Trump surely represents the face of the United States on a daily basis, and that face is an ugly one.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
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,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harsh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harsh. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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