- The definition of harsh is someone or something unpleasant to the senses or feelings, or someone who is crude or extremely cruel.
- 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.
harsh
adjective
- 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
- unpleasantly crude, abrupt, or strained so as to be offensive to the mind or feelings: the harsh realities of death
- 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 origin.Related Forms:
- harsh′ly
adverb
- harsh′ness
noun
harsh
Adjective
(comparative harsher, superlative harshest)
Antonyms
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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.
