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
By all accounts, Atwell, 43, thrived in that harsh environment.
—
Jack Smart, People.com, 22 May 2025
And in that context, any defensive player who comes in hard risks incurring an unnecessary roughness penalty for contact deemed too harsh, even if the whistle hasn’t yet blown.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 21 May 2025
This garment gets exposed to harsher conditions than most clothing.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
More precipitation in these locations could make up for the harsh cold season.
—Jordan-Marie Smith, NPR, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Jack Smart, People.com, 22 May 2025
And in that context, any defensive player who comes in hard risks incurring an unnecessary roughness penalty for contact deemed too harsh, even if the whistle hasn’t yet blown.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 21 May 2025
This garment gets exposed to harsher conditions than most clothing.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
More precipitation in these locations could make up for the harsh cold season.
—Jordan-Marie Smith, NPR, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for harsh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harsh
Adjective
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Now, the regime is going to have to make tough decisions on how to deal with its realities and its people, which is its responsibility.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2025
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Being a careless jackass but also irresistibly charming is a tough needle to thread.—
Staff Author Published,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Arrowhead first set the Guinness world record for loudest stadium in 2013.—
Nate Taylor,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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Aligning with her mission has taught me that compassion can be loud, advocacy can be glamorous and real change often begins in the raw truth of someone’s survival story.—
Sonia Singh,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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But after a smattering of deeply uncomfortable and boundary-crossing hangs, Austin decides to sever ties with Craig, who slowly loses his mind trying to win back his erstwhile buddy.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
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The film is also an introspective interrogation of Cruise's stardom, confronting its main character with uncomfortable realities: his world is artificial, insulated, and fleeting, and his multimillion-dollar good looks could disappear in an instant.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Under the measure's broad scope and strict distance limits, few areas in Ohio would remain open to such purchases.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
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Revolutionary fervor and strict moral codes reshaped film, censoring depictions of gender, modern lifestyles, and social realities.—
Ali Farahmand,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Their boyfriends, meanwhile, suffer the painful indignities of paper cutters, buzzsaws, and other sharp objects.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
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Ornstein: United were budgeting for no European football next season, Joseph, and therefore last night would have been extremely painful but not a complete shock.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Best Smelling Photograph: Kristin Canning Grand Tongo Green Tea + Mint Insect Repellent $15 Amazon After testing nearly 20 different bug sprays (that pretty much all smelled at least a little unpleasant and chemical-y), this picaridin spray from Grand Tongo truly blew me away.—
Kristin Canning,
Wired News,
21 May 2025
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Today after dropping off groceries, my wife noted that the refrigerator, in her opinion, had an unpleasant odor.—
Eric Thomas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Contracts of adhesion are sometimes seen as oppressive, especially in the consumer context, but courts often regard them as enforceable.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
20 May 2025
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The United States held Qaddafi’s Libya up as a success story in the global war on terror, a former rogue state that had made amends for its murderous past, relinquished its nuclear-weapons program and reoriented its oppressive state apparatus around American foreign-policy priorities.—
Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Compare the first half of Season 15 to Jodie Whittaker’s last outing as the Doctor, and things get uglier.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
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The birds' droppings end up on the ground and windows below, creating an ugly scene for staff, branch patrons and passersby walking in the River Market District.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harsh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harsh. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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