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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 harshness
There is no lag to anticipate and no visual harshness pulling attention away from the music.
—
William Jones, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The texture is firm and mouth-filling, with the higher alcohol providing structure without harshness.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
If you're drawn to warmer tones, consider a softer tone like terracotta or peachy neutrals that offer a similar look without the harshness.
—Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 25 May 2026
Watching people be nice to each other brings the heart rate down and fulfills by proxy our need to shed the harshness of the day.
—Sarah Wang, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
The harshness or relentlessness of weather can turn friends to lovers, can cause others to lose their minds, can provoke travel across continents, can cancel plans, can reroute rivers, can flood civilizations, can incite both panic and delight, can wash away a life’s work, can set fire to forests.
—Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
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
William Jones, USA Today, 3 June 2026
The texture is firm and mouth-filling, with the higher alcohol providing structure without harshness.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
If you're drawn to warmer tones, consider a softer tone like terracotta or peachy neutrals that offer a similar look without the harshness.
—Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 25 May 2026
Watching people be nice to each other brings the heart rate down and fulfills by proxy our need to shed the harshness of the day.
—Sarah Wang, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
The harshness or relentlessness of weather can turn friends to lovers, can cause others to lose their minds, can provoke travel across continents, can cancel plans, can reroute rivers, can flood civilizations, can incite both panic and delight, can wash away a life’s work, can set fire to forests.
—Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshness
Noun
-
Bram, his husband, has a demanding job at a museum in Rotterdam and Arnold’s bitterness has grown wearying.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
-
Find out how to beat boredom and bitterness while holding onto your job, with tips on how to build your next chapter, from career coach Cynthia Young.—
Courtney Connley-Hampton,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Allegedly, Buckingham Palace leaned on the press to downplay the severity of the king’s illness last year, which paints a picture of a monarch who’s much sicker than people want to believe.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 June 2026
-
The severity of the victim's injuries was not yet known.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
This can occur with or without skin markings, which may be mistaken for seemingly benign culprits like bug bites or an allergic reaction.—
Alyssa Sparacino,
Glamour,
29 May 2026
-
Guests celebrating Giant included American Vogue Editor Chloe Malle as well as theater producers Tom Kirhady, Lucas McMahon, and Greg Nobile, who sipped on wine and champagne and dined on light bites whilst mingling and talking Tony prospects.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The union has argued that the language — coupled with an arbitration provision — will limit the use of AI replicas to a handful of edge cases.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
5 June 2026
-
As the resort’s premium hotel-within-a-hotel experience, Hōkūpa‘a Tower guests will not only find larger indoor and outdoor room layouts, but will also gain access to The Lānai, a private lounge-style space with complimentary food and drinks, a private bar, and infinity-edge cocktail pools.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
But even something about this roughness seems, in its way, right.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
-
That means that one in every 17 miles of Idaho roads studied scored poor on the roughness index.—
Rose Evans
May 11,
Idaho Statesman,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harshness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshness. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
