1
: having a coarse uneven surface that is rough or unpleasant to the touch
granite stones harsh with lichen—
Nancy Hale
Nancy Hale2
a
: causing a disagreeable or painful sensory reaction : irritating
harsh colors
harsh lighting
her harsh high-pitched voice
The horseradish was too harsh for the children.
: overly intense or powerful
harsh chemicals
b
: physically discomforting
The climate there is very harsh.
a harsh winter
: unpleasant and difficult to accept or experience
the harsh realities of poverty
a harsh reminder of the importance of wearing a seat belt
3
: excessively critical or negative
had some harsh words for her opponent
a harsh critic
: unduly severe in making demands
harsh discipline
4
: lacking in aesthetic appeal or refinement : crude
a harsh and sometimes unpleasant book, barren of pretty touches—Brendan Gill
Brendan Gill
harshly
adverb
harshness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of harsh in a Sentence
The climate there is very harsh.
We've had an extremely harsh winter.
It's time for her to face the harsh realities of this situation.
The accident serves as a harsh reminder of the importance of wearing a seat belt.
The lighting in the room was very harsh.
The state has established harsh penalties for drug dealers.
She has been criticized for her harsh treatment of her students.
He was sentenced to a harsh prison term.
He had harsh words for his opponent.
She has faced some extremely harsh criticism.
Recent Examples on the Web
It’s infused with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide—an ingredient that, notably, has been found in studies to blunt the harsh side effects of retinol.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 6 July 2024
Everything is soaked in stashes of harsh liquor and inadequately buried tensions, leading to an utterly go-for-broke, ambiguous denouement.
—Dennis Perkins and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 5 July 2024
To combat the acne problem, the skincare industry has traditionally relied on antibiotics and harsh prescription medication, but with antibiotic resistance and side effects that can cause dryness and liver damage long term, these solutions are less than ideal.
—WWD, 2 July 2024
The outlets that had received harsh blowback for their previous reports on Biden’s lucidity now feel justified.
—Hadas Gold, CNN, 2 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for harsh 
Deanna Pai, Vogue, 6 July 2024
Everything is soaked in stashes of harsh liquor and inadequately buried tensions, leading to an utterly go-for-broke, ambiguous denouement.
—Dennis Perkins and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 5 July 2024
To combat the acne problem, the skincare industry has traditionally relied on antibiotics and harsh prescription medication, but with antibiotic resistance and side effects that can cause dryness and liver damage long term, these solutions are less than ideal.
—WWD, 2 July 2024
The outlets that had received harsh blowback for their previous reports on Biden’s lucidity now feel justified.
—Hadas Gold, CNN, 2 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for harsh
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'harsh.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to harsh
Dictionary Entries Near harsh
Cite this Entry
“Harsh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harsh. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share