harshness
/ˈhɑːʃnəs
/noun [mass noun]
1The quality of being unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses: he slowly opened his eyes to the harshness of the light the harshness of her tone of voice glycerin can be added to reduce the harshness of the soap on the skin...
- I was immediately drawn to the extreme harshness of his guitar playing and the eerie, murky production.
- I try enunciating clearly, ironing out the harshness of my vowels.
- He does not soften the harshness of noise.
2The quality of being cruel or severe: he has a reputation for the harshness of his judgments the harshness of the regime lies enable us to smooth over the cold, brutal harshness of reality...
- The post-Civil War plantation system only slightly mitigated the harshness of slavery.
- Families of soldiers who flocked to these camps expected freedom and a respite from the harshness of slavery.
- The harshness of his punishment reflects the degree of the family's economic loss.
2.1The condition of being difficult to live in: spring is a welcome relief from the harshness of winter the harshness of the Scottish climate...
- A gleaming silver locomotive barrels through desolate scrub, oblivious to the harshness of the environment.
- Water is a benign, warm, and welcoming presence that relieves the senses from the harshness of the sun and offers sanctuary.
- A rare portrait in stone has been lying in an open field, half buried, exposed to the harshness of sun and rain, and utterly neglected.