harshadjective
uk/hɑːʃ/us/hɑːrʃ/harsh adjective (UNKIND)
C1 unpleasant, unkind, cruel, or more severe than is necessary:
harsh criticism
The children had had a harsh upbringing.
We thought the punishment was rather harsh for such a minor offence.
"There is no alternative," she said in a harsh voice.
He said some harsh words (= spoke unkindly) about his brother.
More examples
- The harsh light revealed every crevice and wrinkle in his face.
- In a harsh economic climate, raises for teachers have become a lightning rod for criticism.
- The book confronts the harsh social and political realities of the world today.
- The prison sentence seemed rather harsh, considering the triviality of the offence.
- The people rebelled against the harsh new government.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Unkind, cruel & unfeeling
- acerbic
- acidly
- backbite
- backbiting
- backhanded
- barbaric
- bilious
- cruelty
- cutthroat
- fiendish
- hard-hearted
- have a heart of stone idiom
- malign
- pitiless
- remorseless
- ruthless
- sadism
- sadist
- unsympathetic
- waspish
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Severe
harsh adjective (TOO STRONG)
C1 too strong, bright, loud, etc.:
harsh chemicals/lighting
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
The qualities of colour
- a riot of colour idiom
- ablaze
- brash
- bright
- colorful
- colourful
- deep
- depth
- dusky
- flamboyant
- fluorescent
- high-visibility
- loud
- muddy
- psychedelic
- pure
- riot
- technicolor
- vivid
- warm
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harshly
adverb uk/ˈhɑːʃ.li/us/ˈhɑːrʃ.li/
C2
I thought she'd been treated rather harshly.
harshness
noun [ U ] uk/ˈhɑːʃ.nəs/us/ˈhɑːrʃ.nəs/
the harshness of the punishment