1
: having a coarse uneven surface that is rough or unpleasant to the touch
granite stones harsh with lichen—
Nancy Hale
Nancy Hale2
a
: causing a disagreeable or painful sensory reaction : irritating
harsh colors
harsh lighting
her harsh high-pitched voice
The horseradish was too harsh for the children.
: overly intense or powerful
harsh chemicals
b
: physically discomforting
The climate there is very harsh.
a harsh winter
: unpleasant and difficult to accept or experience
the harsh realities of poverty
a harsh reminder of the importance of wearing a seat belt
3
: excessively critical or negative
had some harsh words for her opponent
a harsh critic
: unduly severe in making demands
harsh discipline
4
: lacking in aesthetic appeal or refinement : crude
a harsh and sometimes unpleasant book, barren of pretty touches—Brendan Gill
Brendan Gill
harshly
adverb
harshness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of harsh in a Sentence
The climate there is very harsh.
We've had an extremely harsh winter.
It's time for her to face the harsh realities of this situation.
The accident serves as a harsh reminder of the importance of wearing a seat belt.
The lighting in the room was very harsh.
The state has established harsh penalties for drug dealers.
She has been criticized for her harsh treatment of her students.
He was sentenced to a harsh prison term.
He had harsh words for his opponent.
She has faced some extremely harsh criticism.
Recent Examples on the Web
It is also held in late April, when weather is less of a concern, even in cities with harsh winters.
—Ken Belson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Share [Findings] Psychopaths recommend harsher punishments for homicides, whether accidental or motivated by profit, but exhibit relatively low concern about killing in general.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024
But with that harsh reveal, there was a sweet finish: Star baker Christina Tosi, famous for founding the Milk Bar bakery chain, was there with a table full of Dairyland sweets to announce the Quickfire Challenge theme.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
China launched its harshest attack to date on US complaints about industrial overcapacity, signaling that Secretary of State Antony Blinken may be in for some difficult conversations during his visit this week.
—Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 23 Apr. 2024
The maternal embrace can’t always guard against harsher impulses: neither those that exist in the world outside it, or that, perhaps, reside within it.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2024
Organic Mattress Deals Organic mattresses are made without the harsh chemicals that can have a detrimental impact on the environment.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
Despite the harsh Shetland Islands landscape and the punishing realities of an 1840s Scotland undergoing transformation, gentleness – and even joy – seep through the murk of this evocative tale.
—Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2024
In the harsh desert environment, the promise of a break from the sun, wind, and heat would’ve made Umm Jirsan a perfect prehistoric pit stop.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
Ken Belson, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Share [Findings] Psychopaths recommend harsher punishments for homicides, whether accidental or motivated by profit, but exhibit relatively low concern about killing in general.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024
But with that harsh reveal, there was a sweet finish: Star baker Christina Tosi, famous for founding the Milk Bar bakery chain, was there with a table full of Dairyland sweets to announce the Quickfire Challenge theme.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
China launched its harshest attack to date on US complaints about industrial overcapacity, signaling that Secretary of State Antony Blinken may be in for some difficult conversations during his visit this week.
—Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 23 Apr. 2024
The maternal embrace can’t always guard against harsher impulses: neither those that exist in the world outside it, or that, perhaps, reside within it.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2024
Organic Mattress Deals Organic mattresses are made without the harsh chemicals that can have a detrimental impact on the environment.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
Despite the harsh Shetland Islands landscape and the punishing realities of an 1840s Scotland undergoing transformation, gentleness – and even joy – seep through the murk of this evocative tale.
—Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2024
In the harsh desert environment, the promise of a break from the sun, wind, and heat would’ve made Umm Jirsan a perfect prehistoric pit stop.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'harsh.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Harsh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harsh. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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