Synonyms for harsh
hɑrʃ

Princeton's WordNet(4.20 / 5 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. harsh, rough(adj)

   unpleasantly stern

   "wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus"; "the nomad life is rough and hazardous"

   Synonyms:
   bumpy, approximative, rough, raspy, jolting, pugnacious, jolty, crude, gravelly, rocky, coarse, fierce, abrasive, scratchy, jumpy, boisterous, grating, approximate, unsmooth, uncut, rasping

   Antonyms:
   light, pleasant, agreeable, kind

2. harsh(adj)

   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"

   Synonyms:
   rough, coarse, abrasive

   Antonyms:
   pleasant, light, agreeable, kind

3. coarse, harsh(adj)

   of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles

   "coarse meal"; "coarse sand"; "a coarse weave"

   Synonyms:
   coarse, rough-cut, vulgar, uncouth, abrasive, rough, common

   Antonyms:
   kind, pleasant, agreeable, light

4. harsh, rough(adj)

   unkind or cruel or uncivil

   "had harsh words"; "a harsh and unlovable old tyrant"; "a rough answer"

   Synonyms:
   bumpy, approximative, rough, raspy, jolting, pugnacious, jolty, crude, gravelly, rocky, coarse, fierce, abrasive, scratchy, jumpy, boisterous, grating, approximate, unsmooth, uncut, rasping

   Antonyms:
   kind, light, pleasant, agreeable

5. harsh(adj)

   severe

   "a harsh penalty"

   Synonyms:
   rough, coarse, abrasive

   Antonyms:
   kind, light, pleasant, agreeable

6. harsh, abrasive(adj)

   sharply disagreeable; rigorous

   "the harsh facts of court delays"; "an abrasive character"

   Synonyms:
   rough, coarse, abrasive, scratchy

   Antonyms:
   pleasant, kind, light, agreeable

English Synonyms and Antonyms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. harsh

   Acid, sour, and bitter agree in being contrasted with sweet, but the two former are sharply distinguished from the latter. Acid or sour is the taste of vinegar or lemon-juice; bitter that of quassia, quinine, or strychnine. Acrid is nearly allied to bitter. Pungent suggests the effect of pepper or snuff on the organs of taste or smell; as, a pungent odor. Caustic indicates the corroding effect of some strong chemical, as nitrate of silver. In a figurative sense, as applied to language or character, these words are very closely allied. We say a sour face, sharp words, bitter complaints, caustic wit, cutting irony, biting sarcasm, a stinging taunt, harsh judgment, a tart reply. Harsh carries the idea of intentional and severe unkindness, bitter of a severity that arises from real or supposed ill treatment. The bitter speech springs from the sore heart. Tart and sharp utterances may not proceed from an intention to wound, but merely from a wit recklessly keen; cutting, stinging, and biting speech indicates more or less of hostile intent, the latter being the more deeply malicious. The caustic utterance is meant to burn, perhaps wholesomely, as in the satire of Juvenal or Cervantes. Compare MOROSE.

   Synonyms:
   acerb, acetous, acid, acidulated, acidulous, acrid, acrimonious, biting, bitter, caustic, cutting, irate, pungent, savage, sharp, sour, stinging, tart, vinegarish, virulent

   Antonyms:
   dulcet, honeyed, luscious, nectared, saccharine, sweet

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. harsh

   Synonyms:
   rough, grating, severe, sharp, rugged, acrimonious, abusive, soul-jarring, rancorous, rigorous, discordant, gruff

   Antonyms:
   smooth, melodious, lenient, suave, bland, gentle, genial, kindly

Dictionary of English Synonymes(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. harsh(a.)

   Synonyms:
   rough

2. harsh(a.)

   Synonyms:
   sour, acrid, tart, crabbed, hard, biting, sharp, caustic, corrosive

3. harsh(a.)

   Synonyms:
   grating, discordant, jarring

4. harsh(a.)

   Synonyms:
   crabbed, morose, stern, severe, austere, acrimonious, ill-tempered, out of humor, out of temper

5. harsh(a.)

   Synonyms:
   rude, uncivil, bluff, blunt, gruff, ungracious, churlish, bearish, brutal

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. harsh(a)

   Synonyms:
   inharmonious, rough, disagreeable, unpleasant, raucous, dissonant, strident, discordant, cacophonous, austere, morose, severe, ungracious, inurbane, discourteous, churlish, uncivil, blunt, bluff, brusque, acrimonious, caustic, acrid, repulsive

PPDB, the paraphrase database(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these paraphrases:

1. List of paraphrases for "harsh":

   tough, hard, severe, cruel, stringent, strict, rigorous, dura, difficult, grim, brutal, draconian, stark, strongly-worded, stiff, rough, bitter, hostile, fierce, sharp, heavy, rude

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How to use harsh in a sentence?

1. Vital Nshimirimana:

   We ask the international community to follow closely the situation in Burundi in order to stop the harsh reprisal against protesters, civil society activists and opposition leaders.

2. Judge Kang Seong-soo:

   The defendants are well-known celebrities and friends, but the chat they've had showed that they simply considered women as objects of sexual pleasure, and committed crimes that were extremely serious, strict punishment is inevitable as the damage inflicted has not properly been recovered and the victims demand harsh penalties.

3. Oprah Winfrey:

   I would hope that we would not stand in such harsh judgment in a moment of time when someone is hacked in their private conversations, we all make stupid mistakes ... I don't believe she's a racist.

4. Anuj Somany:

   It is an unfortunate but a harsh reality that most often the sycophants flourish and the talents perish in a private corporate organization.

5. Deodatta V. Shenai-Khatkhate:

   It's better to be hurt by a harsh truth than be comforted by a smooth lie, in my view. Truth always sets you free.

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