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
This is neutral, velvety black with extreme shine, emphasizing health and reflection to create depth that feels fluid rather than harsh.
—
Amanda Le, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
Considerations Before Getting Started Protect your table’s shine and clarity by avoiding harsh chemicals and abrasive scrubbing tools that cause tiny scratches, which dull the glass over time.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
But that hope collides with a harsher reality.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
In every wave of protest, his response was harsh.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Amanda Le, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
Considerations Before Getting Started Protect your table’s shine and clarity by avoiding harsh chemicals and abrasive scrubbing tools that cause tiny scratches, which dull the glass over time.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
But that hope collides with a harsher reality.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
In every wave of protest, his response was harsh.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harsh
Adjective
-
Finales can be tough, given how viewers chime in on social media.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
With the Royals negotiations collapsing with Kansas, the state may be able to get away with a tougher negotiating position.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Officers were tasked with combating what officials said was a rise in thefts, people spending money obtained by defrauding the state’s unemployment system and quality of life issues like loud music and the smell of marijuana drifting into stores, according to a 2021 Times investigation.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Buzzer-beaters have begun, the March Madness buzz keeps getting louder, and debates already rage about topics ranging from the top seeds to the NCAA Tournament bubble.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And second, there’s the audience’s uncomfortable tingle of recognition watching Vladimir Putin’s tightening stranglehold on the Russian press.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Fortunately, there are many people who care enough about ballet to face these uncomfortable truths, and who are working to bring ballet into the twenty-first century by challenging traditions that don’t serve dancers’ health or the long-term health of the artform.—
Chloe Angyal,
Time,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Such improvements are crucial for devices like drones that operate with strict limitations on computing power and battery capacity, according to a press release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Wife killed in February airstrikes Mojtaba Khamenei was a particular target for criticism by protesters during unrest over the death of a young woman in police custody in 2022, after she was arrested for allegedly breaching the Islamic Republic's strict dress codes.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Sermon, his mentor, was in the midst of a painful split-up with his creative partner, PMD.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
8 Mar. 2026
-
And, if that wasn't painful enough, your retirement savings takes a hit because the loan isn't getting paid back.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Trapped allergens can affect the air quality in your bedroom, triggering congestion, scalp itching and irritation, not to mention unpleasant odors.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
3 Mar. 2026
-
So Miss Manners believes that your sister should apologize — not to her rude guest, but to the other guests, for having been subjected to such an unpleasant scene.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There is something oppressive about being tied into everything all the time.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Iran is a bad actor and oppressive state that has suppressed its people and supported terrorism around the world.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Perhaps the most ugly truth of human spaceflight is that the ISS is old and its days are numbered.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Okay, let’s get into the other good, bad, and ugly from episode 2 of Survivor 50, and — shameless plug alert!—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harsh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harsh. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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