as in severely
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
treated the prisoners harshly, and many died
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of harshly
The plaintiffs allege that Black employees in the office were disciplined more harshly than their colleagues, denied accommodations and subjected to escalating retaliation after raising concerns about Johnson’s leadership.
—
Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
Mendonça was born in 1968, in the early years of a ruthless military dictatorship—a time when cinema, like much else, was harshly constrained.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
The California governor was harshly critical of Senate Democrats when, during the shutdown late last year, a core bloc voted with Republicans to reopen the government without achieving any meaningful concessions in their weeks-long fight over healthcare tax breaks.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
The best passes occur shortly before dawn and after dusk, as the observer is in the dark while the space station is harshly illuminated in sunlight.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The government harshly policed interracial relationships.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Harbaugh must act swiftly and harshly, though, in delivering the change the Giants need.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
As furious protests enter their third week and bring Iran to the precipice of change, the country’s theocratic government is trying to survive by harshly cracking down on the widening demonstrations.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
In a press conference later in the day, Mayor Frey, 44, harshly condemned the actions of ICE in his city and pushed back against the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) claims that the agent involved in the fatal shooting acted in self defense.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
Mendonça was born in 1968, in the early years of a ruthless military dictatorship—a time when cinema, like much else, was harshly constrained.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
The California governor was harshly critical of Senate Democrats when, during the shutdown late last year, a core bloc voted with Republicans to reopen the government without achieving any meaningful concessions in their weeks-long fight over healthcare tax breaks.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
The best passes occur shortly before dawn and after dusk, as the observer is in the dark while the space station is harshly illuminated in sunlight.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The government harshly policed interracial relationships.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Harbaugh must act swiftly and harshly, though, in delivering the change the Giants need.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
As furious protests enter their third week and bring Iran to the precipice of change, the country’s theocratic government is trying to survive by harshly cracking down on the widening demonstrations.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
In a press conference later in the day, Mayor Frey, 44, harshly condemned the actions of ICE in his city and pushed back against the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) claims that the agent involved in the fatal shooting acted in self defense.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshly
Adverb
-
It was severely dehydrated and sluggish.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Longtime Milford residents Theresa Covaleski and Scott Digris said that Irene severely damaged their shoreline house on Lawrence Court.—
Maleena Muzio,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The first of the four chapters is an oppressively gray-toned, narratively diffuse spy thriller, set amid the mists of what appears to be the Second World War.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
18 Dec. 2025
-
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
Adverb
-
Below, Entertainment Weekly catches up with Teddi — who revealed in April 2025 that her cancer had progressed to stage IV — to get an update on her health, hear her dad's brutally honest Masked Singer feedback, and more.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Mired in a brutally disappointing season, the New York Rangers traded star winger Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, just minutes before the NHL Olympic roster freeze.—
Jeff Capellini,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Graham, in particular, has been on a war path over the negotiations, accusing Republicans of not fighting hard enough to reclaim the narrative on immigration after the death of Alex Pretti last weekend.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
-
County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath hit back hard, telling Bass on X that the county created the new agency because the existing one — which is partly overseen by Bass appointees — was incapable of tracking its spending.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harshly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshly. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
