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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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
Maximum Overdrive, the only movie that King directed, is eligible… but King himself joined the chorus of harsh critics, disowning it and never again returning to the director’s chair .
—
James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Yet the morning's hopeful energy quickly collided with harsh reality.
—Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
At too many colleges, leaders have been reluctant to impose strict rules or harsh penalties for chatbot use, passing the buck to professors to come up with their own policies.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2025
In the days afterwards, Howe held individual meetings with every player, spelling out some harsh realities and what was expected of them.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harsh
James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Yet the morning's hopeful energy quickly collided with harsh reality.
—Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
At too many colleges, leaders have been reluctant to impose strict rules or harsh penalties for chatbot use, passing the buck to professors to come up with their own policies.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2025
In the days afterwards, Howe held individual meetings with every player, spelling out some harsh realities and what was expected of them.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harsh
Adjective
-
The backcourt duo of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, also known as the StudBudz, are shifty, tough shot-making guards who can get hot in a hurry.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
-
And that’s tough on those guys.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
McIlroy received the loudest cheers of the day as his eagle shot dropped in on the par 5.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
-
And instead of Mulder talking about his fond memories playing for the A’s in Oakland, a loud and repeating beep echoed through the public address system.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Candidate quality is an uncomfortable topic for political parties.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
These gems combine the functionality of a bra with the comfort of a cozy piece of clothing, complete with bra shelves or cups to help support the girls without the need for an extra (and sometimes uncomfortable) wires and layers.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Without a strict hierarchy or single decision-maker, our process can sometimes be slow, messy, or even tiring.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
At too many colleges, leaders have been reluctant to impose strict rules or harsh penalties for chatbot use, passing the buck to professors to come up with their own policies.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In other words, the more painful the cry sounded, the warmer the listener's face became—and the effect was the same for both men and women.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The Queen could have surgery to remove bunions, but has been warned against it as the surgery is too painful.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Increase your fiber intake slowly and drink plenty of water to reduce unpleasant side effects like cramping and bloating.—
Courtney Southwick,
Health,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Any unpleasant government decision—such as the August order blocking voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, on the pretext of preventing scams and terrorist activity—tends to be perceived mostly with passive discontent and immediate adaptation with the search for alternative practical solutions.—
ANDREI KOLESNIKOV,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Its pace is slow — occasionally, but rarely, to its detriment — but this clearly deliberate tempo gives you the chance to shoulder the burdens of its oppressive atmosphere and settle into its many puzzles, which regularly trade logic for personal interpretation, and occasionally just vibes.—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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This process includes questioning the logics and myths that uphold the status quo and calling out oppression as part of the struggle toward an anti-oppressive future.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The only debate is which of his five interceptions against LSU was the ugliest and/or costliest in a 20-10 loss.—
David Ubben,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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The results were ugly and caused lasting damage to our citizens' livelihoods and our city's reputation.—
Ted Wheeler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harsh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harsh. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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