1
as in tough
difficult to endure
harsh conditions in the refugee camp
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loud
disagreeable to one's aesthetic or artistic sense
the harsh lighting in the cafeteria makes the food look slightly off-color
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uncomfortable
causing discomfort
the harsh northern climate
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4
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
a harsh judge when it comes to drug users and especially drug dealers
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5
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
the harsh reality of failure harsh words of criticism from her music teacher
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6
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
winced at the harsh sound that the beginner violinist was making
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harsh
Summer can be an especially harsh time for patients with severe mental illness, said Carrell, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and director of behavioral health services at Outreach Community Health Centers in Milwaukee.
—
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Pioneer Girl was considered too harsh about the realities of frontier life.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Rosenberg’s show offers a direct pipeline to those segments of voters, and media observers note the mayor likely is aware Rosenberg’s frequent, harsh on-air tirades against him stand to wound him politically.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2025
The harsh reality is this: not all cell phone forensic extractions are created equal, and the most important evidence for trucking cases on the smartphone will be gone in days or weeks.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Pioneer Girl was considered too harsh about the realities of frontier life.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Rosenberg’s show offers a direct pipeline to those segments of voters, and media observers note the mayor likely is aware Rosenberg’s frequent, harsh on-air tirades against him stand to wound him politically.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2025
The harsh reality is this: not all cell phone forensic extractions are created equal, and the most important evidence for trucking cases on the smartphone will be gone in days or weeks.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harsh
Adjective
-
Lamont, who had proposed boosting special education aid by $40 million — but not until July 2026 — countered that the state budget already was on pace to exceed the budget cap and that legislators needed to make tough choices and trim spending.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Matters were made even tougher for Moore when veteran quarterback Derek Carr retired in May, leaving the Saints with a group of young quarterbacks to choose from to lead the offense.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The calls from the right flank of the GOP for Phelan's ouster were equally as loud as the calls that any speaker must have the support of most, if not all, of the Republican House members.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
The loudest voice in the manosphere is infamous for many things, including criminal charges of human trafficking, rape, and assault.—
Brad Wilcox,
The Atlantic,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
For marketers, this is both exciting and uncomfortable.—
Francesca Pezzoli,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
But the odd tone of their recent fight when Miranda comments on Carrie’s flirtation with her writer neighbor Duncan (Jonathan Cake) is uncomfortable.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
For example, in sales, if a customer wants a certain number of licenses but has a strict budget, an agent can help figure out the best deal by looking at things like license count, budget limits and different contract lengths (like one-, two- or three-year terms).—
Ian Gotts,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
Anna Marson, a former Tuscany regional minister who now teaches urban planning at a university in Venice, was closely involved in putting forward a plan to impose stricter environmental regulations on the region’s marble quarries in 2014.—
Meara Sharma,
The Dial,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Taking action to speak out against the Israeli government was deeply painful and difficult.—
Rachel Timoner,
New York Daily News,
2 Aug. 2025
-
The Chinese government can also make diversification painful.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Disruptions in the ratio, like when there’s too much estrogen vs. testosterone, can cause unpleasant symptoms like weight gain, mood swings, and fatigue.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Tribalism can and does spill over into much more unpleasant areas, from basic name-calling to more insidious abuse.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In many areas along and east of the Mississippi River, heat index values could soar to between 110 and 115 degrees — the kind of oppressive heat that can quickly turn dangerous without proper precautions.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
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Sweltering under a heat dome that brought oppressive triple-digit temperatures and humidity to large swaths of the Midwest and East Coast, average daily highs in Chicago topped 84.1 degrees in June, 3.7 degrees above normal.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
In February, the feud between way and actor Marlon Wayans reached an ugly head when the rapper published a series of cruel and vindictive social media posts targeting Wayans' transgender son, Kai.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Shocking Roadblock in Cowboys Star's Contract Talks Chicago Bears Mentioned as Possible Trade Partner For Dallas Cowboys Star NFL Expert Projects Micah Parsons' Trade Value for Cowboys This is quickly disintegrating into an ugly standoff between player and organization.—
Geoffrey Knox,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harsh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harsh. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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