as in severely
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
treated the prisoners harshly, and many died
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harshly
Hilleary, at the campaign event, also harshly criticized Biden’s immigration policies and his administration’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.
—
David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Always use gentle, soft tools like an old toothbrush to scrub away grime in tough corners or nooks, but avoid scrubbing harshly.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
There are some two million Arab citizens of Israel, some of whom could be radicalized if Israel continues to frustrate Palestinian political ambitions and treat Palestinians so harshly.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2025
The data speaks more harshly than any anecdote.
—Yermys Pena, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Importantly, the association urged owners not to discipline their pups harshly for the behavior.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Kimmel lives and works in California, though Trump has recently suggested the comic — who harshly mocks the President on his late night show — may be out of work sooner than later.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
Mascherano harshly criticized officials after the game for ejecting Falcon without a video review.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Always use gentle, soft tools like an old toothbrush to scrub away grime in tough corners or nooks, but avoid scrubbing harshly.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
There are some two million Arab citizens of Israel, some of whom could be radicalized if Israel continues to frustrate Palestinian political ambitions and treat Palestinians so harshly.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2025
The data speaks more harshly than any anecdote.
—Yermys Pena, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Importantly, the association urged owners not to discipline their pups harshly for the behavior.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Kimmel lives and works in California, though Trump has recently suggested the comic — who harshly mocks the President on his late night show — may be out of work sooner than later.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
Mascherano harshly criticized officials after the game for ejecting Falcon without a video review.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshly
Adverb
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But with Burrow now looking likely to miss the majority of the regular season, those chances look severely diminished.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
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This stagnation can severely impact marketability and career growth when the labor market eventually improves.—
Kara Dennison,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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On an oppressively hot Friday in July, plumes of smoke curl up from Arnolds Field.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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This recent history reminds us just how brutally inflation spikes can demolish market confidence.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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In February, 2024, when a nursing student named Laken Riley was brutally raped and murdered by a Venezuelan immigrant in Georgia, Republicans at the state and national level argued that the perpetrator was connected to Tren de Aragua.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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The bristles are neither too floppy nor too stiff, neither too long nor too short, and are cut to the perfect rounded shape that’s just right for swirling pigment over the apples or spreading it along your cheekbones—without having to work too hard for a completely natural finish.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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The Eagles went chasing on a third-and-8 situation at the Chiefs’ 33 at the start of the third quarter, and Smith went down hard after a deep pass from Hurts fell incomplete along the left sideline.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harshly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshly. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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