Harsh Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 5, 2024
Harsh describes something unpleasantly severe, stark, or rough, often causing discomfort. e.g., The hikers were unprepared for the harsh conditions of the desert.
Table of Contents
Harsh Definitions
Excessively strong or intense in effect.
The harsh chemicals were dangerous to handle.
Extremely strict or demanding.
The fitness regimen was too harsh for beginners.
Having a coarse or bristly texture.
The fabric felt harsh against her skin.
Uncompromisingly stark or blunt.
The documentary presented a harsh reality of life.
Grating or discordant in sound.
The alarm clock's harsh ring woke him up.
Having severe weather conditions.
The mountaineers were challenged by the harsh winter.
Severe or cruel in treatment or judgment.
The teacher's harsh criticism upset the student.
Rough or abrasive in manner or speech.
His harsh words caused a lot of hurt.
Disagreeable to the sense of hearing
A harsh voice.
Disagreeable to the sense of sight
Harsh lighting.
Unpleasantly coarse and rough to the touch
Harsh burlap.
Unpleasant, uncomfortable, or hostile to survival
A harsh wilderness.
A harsh winter.
Severe, cruel, or exacting
Harsh punishment.
A harsh overseer.
Disagreeable to the mind or feelings
Harsh words.
Expressing displeasure or disapproval
Gave me a harsh look.
Unpleasantly rough to the touch or other senses.
Severe or cruel.
To negatively criticize.
Quit harshing me already, I said that I was sorry!
To put a damper on (a mood).
Dude, you're harshing my buzz.
Rough; disagreeable; grating
Unpleasant and repulsive to the sensibilities; austere; crabbed; morose; abusive; abusive; severe; rough.
Clarence is so harsh, so blunt.
Though harsh the precept, yet the preacher charmed.
Having violent contrasts of color, or of light and shade; lacking in harmony.
Unpleasantly stern;
Wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus
The nomad life is rough and hazardous
Disagreeable to the senses;
The harsh cry of a blue jay
Harsh cognac
The harsh white light makes you screw up your eyes
Harsh irritating smoke filled the hallway
Extremely unkind or cruel;
Had harsh words
A harsh and unlovable old tyrant
Severe;
A harsh penalty
Used of circumstances (especially weather) that cause suffering;
Brutal weather
Northern winters can be cruel
A cruel world
A harsh climate
A rigorous climate
Unkind winters
Sharply disagreeable; rigorous;
The harsh facts of court delays
An abrasive character
Unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses.
The harsh sunlight made it difficult to see.
Extremely severe or difficult to endure.
The soldiers faced harsh conditions during the expedition.
Harsh Snonyms
Stern
Serious and unrelenting, especially in the assertion of authority and exercise of discipline.
The teacher was known for her stern demeanor.
Brutal
Savagely violent; punishingly hard or uncomfortable.
The brutal winter left many people without adequate heating.
Austere
Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance.
The austere landscape was both beautiful and foreboding.
Stark
Sharp in outline or appearance; bare or blunt.
The stark reality of the situation was hard to accept.
Rigorous
Extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate.
The training program is rigorous and demanding.
Gruff
Abrupt or taciturn in manner.
His gruff manner can be intimidating to those who don't know him well.
Severe
Very great; intense.
The drought had severe effects on the local farming community.
Rough
Having an uneven or irregular surface; not smooth or soft.
The rough terrain made the hike challenging.
Bitter
Having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet.
The medicine had a bitter taste that was hard to swallow.
Unforgiving
Not willing to forgive or excuse people's faults or wrongdoings.
The desert is an unforgiving environment for the unprepared.
Harsh Idioms & Phrases
Harsh reality
A truth that is difficult to accept or confront because of its severity or harshness.
Losing his job forced him to face the harsh reality of his financial situation.
Harsh light of day
The reality or truth of a situation that becomes clear and unavoidable.
His mistakes were exposed in the harsh light of day, leaving him with no place to hide.
Harsh criticism
Very severe or stern disapproval or judgement.
The author's first novel received harsh criticism from several leading critics.
Harsh conditions
Extremely difficult or unfavorable environmental or living conditions.
The explorers had to survive harsh conditions in the desert for weeks.
Harsh punishment
A severe penalty or consequence for wrongdoing.
The court handed down a harsh punishment to deter similar crimes in the future.
Harsh measures
Severe actions taken to solve a problem or control a situation.
The government implemented harsh measures to curb the spread of the disease.
Harsh reality check
An event or moment that forcefully reminds one of the severity or difficulty of a situation.
Losing the match was a harsh reality check for the team, showing they had much to improve.
Harsh landscape
An area of land that is difficult to live in or traverse because of its severe features.
The pioneers traveled through the harsh landscape, enduring many hardships.
Harsh words
Severe or cruel spoken remarks.
In the heat of the argument, they exchanged harsh words that they later regretted.
Harsh tone
A manner of speaking that is severe and unfriendly.
His harsh tone made it clear he was not open to further discussion.
Under a harsh light
Being in a situation where flaws or imperfections are highlighted and scrutinized.
The scandal put his entire career under a harsh light.
Harsh whispers
Soft-spoken words that are severe or critical in nature.
Harsh whispers filled the room as she walked in, making her uneasy.
Harsh sound
An unpleasant, grating, or severe noise.
The harsh sound of the alarm jolted everyone awake.
Harsh winter
A winter season that is particularly severe in terms of cold, snow, or storms.
The community braced themselves for the harsh winter predicted by meteorologists.
Survive the harsh environment
To continue to live or function in a very difficult or hostile setting.
Only the most adaptable species can survive the harsh environment of the desert.
Harsh glare
A severe or intense look that conveys disapproval or anger.
She recoiled under the harsh glare of her supervisor after making a mistake.
Harsh judgment
An opinion or decision that is very critical and severe.
Despite her efforts, she felt the panel's harsh judgment on her performance was unfair.
Face the harsh truth
To confront or accept a reality that is difficult or unpleasant.
He had to face the harsh truth that his trust had been betrayed.
Harsh Example Sentences
She found his tone too harsh and unfriendly.
They struggled to adapt to the harsh environment.
The judge's harsh sentence surprised everyone in the courtroom.
The sun's harsh rays can damage your skin.
The harsh winter made traveling difficult.
He received harsh criticism for his performance.
The fabric was harsh and itchy on her skin.
The harsh landscape was beautiful but dangerous.
The coach's harsh methods were not effective.
She was known for her harsh but fair judgments.
The new soap was too harsh for her sensitive skin.
They braved the harsh winds during the hike.
The desert is known for its harsh climate.
The instructor's harsh feedback discouraged the students.
The harsh lighting in the room hurt their eyes.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in harsh?
There is one syllable in "harsh."
How do we divide harsh into syllables?
Since "harsh" has only one syllable, it is not divided.
What is the verb form of harsh?
"Harsh" is an adjective, not a verb, so it does not have a verb form.
How is harsh used in a sentence?
Example: "The critic's review was surprisingly harsh."
Why is it called harsh?
It is called "harsh" from the Middle English "harsk," which may have Scandinavian roots, meaning rough, severe, or cruel.
What is a stressed syllable in harsh?
The entire word "harsh" is stressed as it is a single syllable.
What is the pronunciation of harsh?
Harsh is pronounced as /hɑːrʃ/.
What is the root word of harsh?
The root word of "harsh" is the Middle English "harsk."
What is the singular form of harsh?
"Harsh" does not change form between singular and plural as it is an adjective.
What is the opposite of harsh?
The opposite of "harsh" is "gentle" or "mild."
Is harsh an adverb?
No, "harsh" is not an adverb.
Is the word harsh Gerund?
"Harsh" is not a verb, so it does not have a gerund form.
Which determiner is used with harsh?
Determiners like "the," "a," or "this" can be used with "harsh" depending on the context.
What part of speech is harsh?
"Harsh" is an adjective.
Is harsh an abstract noun?
"Harsh" is an adjective, not a noun.
Is the word “harsh” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Harsh" is an adjective and therefore cannot be a direct or indirect object.
What is another term for harsh?
Another term for "harsh" is "severe" or "abrasive."
What is the plural form of harsh?
"Harsh" remains the same in plural usage since it is an adjective.
Is harsh a negative or positive word?
"Harsh" generally has a negative connotation.
Is harsh a countable noun?
"Harsh" is not a noun; it's an adjective.
Is harsh a collective noun?
"Harsh" is not a noun, so it cannot be a collective noun.
Which vowel is used before harsh?
The vowel used before "harsh" depends on the context of the sentence.
Which preposition is used with harsh?
Common prepositions used with "harsh" include "in," "of," and "on."
Which conjunction is used with harsh?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "harsh," depending on the sentence.
Is harsh a noun or adjective?
"Harsh" is an adjective.
Is harsh a vowel or consonant?
The word "harsh" starts with a consonant.
Is the harsh term a metaphor?
"Harsh" can be used metaphorically to describe non-physical qualities, like behavior or tone.
Is the word harsh imperative?
As an adjective, "harsh" is not used in the imperative form.
Which article is used with harsh?
Articles such as "the," "a," or "an" can be used with "harsh," depending on the context.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
