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Showing results for harsh. Search instead for harsche.
Definitions

harsh

[hahrsh] / hɑrʃ /
ADJECTIVE
rough, crude (to the senses)
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bitter bleak grim hard rigid severe sharp strident
STRONG
coarse
WEAK
acrid asperous astringent cacophonous caterwauling clashing cracked craggy creaking croaking disagreeing discordant dissonant disturbing earsplitting flat glaring grating guttural hoarse incompatible jagged jangling jarring noisy not smooth off-key out-of-key out-of-tune rasping raucous rugged rusty screeching sour stridulous tuneless uneven unlevel unmelodious unmusical unrelenting
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bland bright calm cheerful easy facile flexible kind low mild moderate nice pleasant pliable pliant soft sunny yielding
WEAK
courteous gentle peaceful pleasing polite smooth
ADJECTIVE
nasty, abusive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bitter brutal cruel grim hard punitive relentless rude ruthless severe sharp stern stringent tough unkind unpleasant
WEAK
austere comfortless cussed discourteous dour gruff hairy hard-boiled hard-nosed hard-shell mean pitiless uncivil unfeeling ungracious unrelenting wicked
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreeable bland calm cheerful compassionate considerate easy facile flexible friendly gentle giving good inexact kind merciful mild nice pleasant sympathetic tolerant wonderful
WEAK
courteous peaceful pleasing polite smooth soft

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The findings add to growing evidence that small, protected areas known as "microrefugia" allowed temperate plant species to survive harsh Ice Age conditions in northern Europe.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

Sometimes, he said, a boss asked him to clean milk tanks using harsh chemicals without protective gear.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Americans are staring down a harsh new reality despite the tentative cease-fire in the Middle East: $4 gasoline looks like it’s here to stay.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

She was sent to a mother and baby home in Kent and recalled what she said were the "harsh" conditions of the home.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

The island was a harsh place, for all its glorious shine.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Vocabulary lists containing harsh

Negative Words to Describe a Person

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Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 4

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Oh, No! Synonyms for "Bad"

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