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Definitions

harsh

[hahrsh] / hɑrʃ /
ADJECTIVE
rough, crude (to the senses)
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bitter bleak grim hard rigid severe sharp strident
STRONG
coarse
WEAK
acrid asperous astringent cacophonous caterwauling clashing cracked craggy creaking croaking disagreeing discordant dissonant disturbing earsplitting flat glaring grating guttural hoarse incompatible jagged jangling jarring noisy not smooth off-key out-of-key out-of-tune rasping raucous rugged rusty screeching sour stridulous tuneless uneven unlevel unmelodious unmusical unrelenting
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bland bright calm cheerful easy facile flexible kind low mild moderate nice pleasant pliable pliant soft sunny yielding
WEAK
courteous gentle peaceful pleasing polite smooth
ADJECTIVE
nasty, abusive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bitter brutal cruel grim hard punitive relentless rude ruthless severe sharp stern stringent tough unkind unpleasant
WEAK
austere comfortless cussed discourteous dour gruff hairy hard-boiled hard-nosed hard-shell mean pitiless uncivil unfeeling ungracious unrelenting wicked
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreeable bland calm cheerful compassionate considerate easy facile flexible friendly gentle giving good inexact kind merciful mild nice pleasant sympathetic tolerant wonderful
WEAK
courteous peaceful pleasing polite smooth soft

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The harsh measures have not spared Cuba's tourism sector, usually its second-biggest source of foreign currency and an employer of over 300,000 people.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

Retailers other than gas stations got a boost in March from a trio of factors: An early Easter, bigger tax refunds and warmer weather after a harsh winter.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

The findings add to growing evidence that small, protected areas known as "microrefugia" allowed temperate plant species to survive harsh Ice Age conditions in northern Europe.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

Sometimes, he said, a boss asked him to clean milk tanks using harsh chemicals without protective gear.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

They were often hotheaded but also fast to regret their harsh words; this was their peace offering of sorts.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Vocabulary lists containing harsh

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