1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
there was a harshness about her voice that made her an unlikely but surprisingly evocative singer of torch songs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in severity
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)
was surprised at the harshness of the choirmaster's criticism, since he was usually pretty easygoing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harshness
Concrete and glass meet at sharp angles, while a curved courtyard wall softens the harshness.
—
New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026
Sunlight naturally sanitizes, and air drying prevents the harshness of high heat.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
The tinted visor that Morgan Geekie wore for two games against the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars in January could help mute the lights’ harshness.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Seoul 1988 Retinal Eye Cream Viral for using retinal (stronger than retinol) in a liposome delivery system for smoother texture without harshness.
—Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The noise cancellation is legendary, and the sound is balanced and clean, with no weird bass boosting or treble harshness.
—PC Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
The harshness of the rhetoric reflects just how much Moscow stands to lose if the deal holds and TRIPP become a reality.
—Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Middleton aimed to create a score that reflects the harshness and hope of the desert setting.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Oct. 2025
The harshness of the language and the raw politicking shocked voters.
—Matt Klink, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026
Sunlight naturally sanitizes, and air drying prevents the harshness of high heat.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
The tinted visor that Morgan Geekie wore for two games against the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars in January could help mute the lights’ harshness.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Seoul 1988 Retinal Eye Cream Viral for using retinal (stronger than retinol) in a liposome delivery system for smoother texture without harshness.
—Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The noise cancellation is legendary, and the sound is balanced and clean, with no weird bass boosting or treble harshness.
—PC Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
The harshness of the rhetoric reflects just how much Moscow stands to lose if the deal holds and TRIPP become a reality.
—Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Middleton aimed to create a score that reflects the harshness and hope of the desert setting.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Oct. 2025
The harshness of the language and the raw politicking shocked voters.
—Matt Klink, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshness
Noun
-
Just make sure to choose limes with slightly thinner skin for less bitterness.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Weeks after American Idol audiences booed her for giving honest feedback, Carrie Underwood responded not with bitterness but with blue boxes.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bruce Lehr, Lunger's attorney, disputed the severity of the charges.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Why High-Speed Rural Corridors Increase California Crash Severity Beyond urban centers, crash severity often increases in rural corridors where higher speeds are more common.—
Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two Boys Fighting Over a Bladder (circa 1767–1770) suggests that the latter view has bite.—
Julian Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The wing’s bark pairs with plenty of bite.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Patriots had a busy offseason, adding top free agents wide receiver Romeo Doubs, safety Kevin Byard, edge defender Dre’Mont Jones and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, among other veterans.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The 2022 draft was the last one to be truly wide open at the top — the Jags ended up picking edge rusher Travon Walker in a year that featured three edge rushers and two cornerbacks in the top five, and no quarterback selected until Kenny Pickett at 20.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The roughness has to do with our times.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Tiny imperfections, including surface roughness, slight misalignments, and stray electrical charges, can destabilize the trap.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harshness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshness. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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