1
: having a coarse uneven surface that is rough or unpleasant to the touch
granite stones harsh with lichenNancy Hale
2
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 touchesBrendan Gill
harshly adverb
harshness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for harsh

rough, harsh, uneven, rugged, scabrous mean not smooth or even.

rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface.

a rough wooden board

harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch.

a harsh fabric that chafes the skin

uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality.

an old house with uneven floors

rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel.

a rugged landscape

scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface.

a scabrous leaf

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 Despite their high elevation and harsh climate, Tashbulak and Tugunbulak weren’t simply outposts or rest stops, but cities with their own economies. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024 These ruggedized oscillators offer stability and reliability under harsh conditions, ensuring that communications and navigation systems can maintain accurate timing on the receiver side, even when GPS signals are compromised. Markus Lutz, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Advertisement World & Nation Israel’s killing of Hamas’ leader is a harsh blow, but hardly fatal. Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024 Aquarius: In the Northern Hemisphere, Aquarius season occurs in the heart of winter (from mid to late January and mid to late February), sustaining a vision for the future despite the darkness and harsh winter months ahead. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for harsh 

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.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English harsk, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian harsk harsh

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of harsh was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near harsh

Cite this Entry

“Harsh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harsh. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

harsh

adjective
1
: disagreeable to the touch
2
: causing discomfort or pain
3
: making many or difficult demands : severe
harsh discipline
4
: not pleasant to the artistic sense
harsh colors
harshly adverb
harshness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on harsh

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