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harshness

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of harshness

1 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 of harshness

acerbity, acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimoniousness, acrimony, acuteness, asperity, bite, bitterness, edge, keenness, poignance, poignancy, pungency, roughness, sharpness, tartness
Words Related to harshness

ginger, punch, spice, tang

raucousness, severeness, severity, shrillness, virulence, vitriol

cattiness, maliciousness

pointedness, thorniness
Near Antonyms of harshness

gentleness, kindliness
Antonyms of harshness

mildness, softness

2 the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)

  • was surprised at the harshness of the choirmasterʼs criticism, since he was usually pretty easygoing
Synonyms of harshness

exactingness, hardness, inflexibility, rigidity, rigidness, rigor, rigorousness, severity, sternness, strictness, stringency
Words Related to harshness

callousness, hard-heartedness, implacability, obduracy, obdurateness, pitilessness

dourness, gruffness

asceticism, austereness, austerity, monasticism

determination, firmness, resolve, steadfastness

obstinacy, stubbornness
Near Antonyms of harshness

forbearance, indulgence, kindness, lenience, patience, softness, tenderness, tolerance

responsiveness, willingness

compliance, pliability, pliancy
Antonyms of harshness

flexibility, gentleness, laxness, mildness

Learn More about harshness

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of harshness Nglish: Translation of harshness for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of harshness for Arabic speakers

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