Harsh Definition & Meaning

harsh
adjective
  1. unpleasantly stern; "wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus"; "the nomad life is rough and hazardous"
  2. disagreeable to the senses; "the harsh cry of a blue jay"; "harsh cognac"; "the harsh white light makes you screw up your eyes"; "harsh irritating smoke filled the hallway"
  3. of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles; "coarse meal"; "coarse sand"; "a coarse weave"
  4. unkind or cruel or uncivil; "had harsh words"; "a harsh and unlovable old tyrant"; "a rough answer"
  5. severe; "a harsh penalty"
  6. sharply disagreeable; rigorous; "the harsh facts of court delays"; "an abrasive character"

Synonyms for harsh

abrasive adj

causing abrasion sharply disagreeable; rigorous; "the harsh facts of court delays

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
brutal adj

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering; "a barbarous crime"; "brutal beatings

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cruel adj

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering; "a barbarous crime"; "brutal beatings

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disagreeable adj

not to your liking; "a disagreeable situation" unpleasant to interact with

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hard adv

with effort or force or vigor; "the team played hard"; "worked hard all day"; "pressed hard on the lever

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heavy adv

slowly as if burdened by much weight; "time hung heavy on their hands" of comparatively great physical weight or

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rigorous adj

rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard; "rigorous application of the law

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rough adv

with roughness or violence (`rough' is an informal variant for `roughly'); "he was pushed roughly aside

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unkind adj

lacking kindness; "a thoughtless and unkind remark"; "the unkindest cut of all" deficient in humane and kindly feelings

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unpleasant adj

disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings ; "an unpleasant personality"; "unpleasant repercussions

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"Harsh" in song lyrics

See how harsh is used in real songs:

  • "And if your offended I ain't try'na be harsh"
    Funkoars f/ Hilltop Hoods — What I Want
  • "Some commited suicide, cuz times was harsh"
    Gravediggaz — Better Wake Up
  • "Was harsh"
    Grits — Stop Bitin'

Words that rhyme with harsh

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Usage tips for "harsh"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "harsh" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for harsh to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with harsh ↔ Synonyms for harsh 🔬 Words containing harsh

Frequently asked questions

What does harsh mean?
unpleasantly stern; "wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus"; "the nomad life is rough and hazardous" disagreeable to the senses; "the harsh cry of a blue jay"; "harsh cognac"; "the harsh white light makes you screw up your eyes"; "harsh irritating smoke filled the hallway" of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles; "coarse meal"; "coarse sand"; "a coarse weave" unkind or cruel or uncivil; "had harsh words
What part of speech is harsh?
Harsh is an adjective.
How many definitions does harsh have?
Harsh has 6 definitions across 1 part of speech (adjective).

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