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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 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
-
At that point, a loud drum fill announces itself, snarling electric guitars kick in and McCartney’s trademark howls of old arrive in time for a fairly kick-ass chorus.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
23 May 2026
-
Lacking any sort of thematic heft to make the proceedings truly spooky, proficient helmer Ovredal mainly relies on a series of jump scares, complete with sudden loud noises, to keep us on edge.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Last year, as Zohran Mamdani gained steam in New York’s Democratic mayoral primary, Jeffries found himself in an increasingly uncomfortable position.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The uncomfortable truth is that in most organizations, nobody has a clear answer.—
Shiv Kaushik,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
If strict fidelity gets in the way, it can be treated as immaterial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Employees who once rejected office culture are now returning to in-person roles, accepting stricter employer demands, delaying entrepreneurial goals, or remaining in emotionally exhausting workplaces because financial risks feel too high.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Quickly, and out of nowhere, the moment went from fun to incredibly painful for Golla.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
Regenvanu also makes clear that Vanuatu will not withdraw its UN resolution, despite pressure and despite painful compromises in the text.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
And since each state tax operates under its own often arcane rules, those costs can come as an unpleasant surprise.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
His rhetoric is unpleasant and extreme enough that he could not get confirmed to a university board in Florida.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 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
-
But there is a right to be concerned about Levshunov after an ugly 2025-26.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
Between archival footage and photos of Lennon and Ono, there are dozens of jarring, ugly visuals, seemingly generated by entering Ono and Lennon’s dialogue into a machine that spits out bizarrely literal interpretations of text.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harsh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harsh. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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