- An example of harsh is walking outside to the bright sun after being in a dark room for a long time.
- An example of harsh is a performer being told by a critic that they're not talented.
The definition of harsh is someone or something unpleasant to the senses or feelings, or someone who is crude or extremely cruel.
harsh
- unpleasantly sharp or rough; specif.,
- grating to the ear; discordant
- too bright or vivid to the eye; glaring
- too strong to the taste; bitter
- not smooth to the touch; coarse
- so unpleasantly crude, abrupt, or strained as to be offensive to the mind or feelings: the harsh realities of war
- rough, crude, or forbidding in appearance: beneath his harsh exterior
- excessively severe; cruel or unfeeling: a harsh punishment
- oppressive, inhospitable, inclement, etc.: a harsh climate
Origin of harsh
Middle English harsk, akin to German harsch, rough, raw from Indo-European base an unverified form kars, to scratch, comb from source Classical Latin carduus, thistle, carrere, to card (wool)harsh
adjective
harsh·er, harsh·est- Disagreeable to one of the senses, as:a. Disagreeable to the sense of hearing: a harsh voice.b. Disagreeable to the sense of sight: harsh lighting.c. Unpleasantly coarse and rough to the touch: harsh burlap.
- Unpleasant, uncomfortable, or hostile to survival: a harsh wilderness; a harsh winter.
- Severe, cruel, or exacting: harsh punishment; a harsh overseer.
- Disagreeable to the mind or feelings: harsh words.
- Expressing displeasure or disapproval: gave me a harsh look.
Origin of harsh
Middle English harsk of Scandinavian originRelated Forms:
- harsh′ly
adverb
- harsh′ness
noun
harsh
Adjective
(comparative harsher, superlative harshest)
Antonyms
- The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. Use the template {{sense|"gloss"}}, substituting a short version of the definition for "gloss".
Verb
(third-person singular simple present harshes, present participle harshing, simple past and past participle harshed)
- (intransitive, slang) To negatively criticize.
- Quit harshing me already, I said that I was sorry!
- (slang) to put a damper on (a mood).
- Dude, you're harshing my buzz.
Origin
From Middle English, from Middle Low German harsch (“rough”), literally "hairy," from haer (“hair”). Cognate with German harsch.
