as in severely
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
treated the prisoners harshly, and many died
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Recent Examples of harshly
This can range from where to stand to create passing lanes to how quickly or slowly to travel in possession — as Elliott harshly discovered against Sunderland.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
The chamber has harshly criticized the proposal on its website and in mass texts.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
Bipartisan condemnation of Santos, but some Republican support Many of his fellow congressional Republicans were harshly critical of Santos after his crimes emerged.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
The Justices have also harshly criticized lower-court judges who have blocked the Administration’s actions, including Young, who went so far as to apologize from the bench.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Executive-produced by Knox herself, and produced by Monica Lewinsky, the series emphasizes how naïve Knox was at the time, and just how harshly she was treated by not only the press, but an entire country.
—Claudia Rosenbaum, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
He was immediately called out by a member of the Directing Staff, who addressed him harshly by his team number.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2025
Parents may drink an extra glass of wine, avoid a tough conversation, or judge themselves harshly when they’re stressed.
—Juli Fraga, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
Yet, boards scrutinize their decisions more harshly, and media coverage frames their departures more negatively.
—Essence, 23 Sep. 2025
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
The chamber has harshly criticized the proposal on its website and in mass texts.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
Bipartisan condemnation of Santos, but some Republican support Many of his fellow congressional Republicans were harshly critical of Santos after his crimes emerged.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
The Justices have also harshly criticized lower-court judges who have blocked the Administration’s actions, including Young, who went so far as to apologize from the bench.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Executive-produced by Knox herself, and produced by Monica Lewinsky, the series emphasizes how naïve Knox was at the time, and just how harshly she was treated by not only the press, but an entire country.
—Claudia Rosenbaum, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
He was immediately called out by a member of the Directing Staff, who addressed him harshly by his team number.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2025
Parents may drink an extra glass of wine, avoid a tough conversation, or judge themselves harshly when they’re stressed.
—Juli Fraga, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
Yet, boards scrutinize their decisions more harshly, and media coverage frames their departures more negatively.
—Essence, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshly
Adverb
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On July 14, a jury of 10 women and two men found Serafini guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder for the shooting that killed his father-in-law Gary Spohr, 70, and severely wounded his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood, 68, at their home.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
21 Oct. 2025
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But Israel continues to severely restrict crossings open for aid shipments and who can send aid through them.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
21 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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The second planet from the sun has a completely inhospitable surface, with temperatures reaching 863 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius) and a crushing pressure underneath an oppressively thick atmosphere.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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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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Expect brutally honest exchanges around money, trust and intimacy.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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However, as Fatu's entrance music played, cameras cut backstage to reveal he had been brutally attacked.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
When daylight savings ends next week, dragging yourself out of bed will likely feel even harder.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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But economists say recruiting young people will get harder nationwide as smaller families continue to transform the American population.—
Sarah McCammon,
NPR,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harshly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshly. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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