| / English Dictionary |
HARSH
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Sharply disagreeable; rigorous
Example:
an abrasive character
Synonyms:
abrasive; harsh
Classified under:
Similar:
disagreeable (not to your liking)
Derivation:
harshness (excessive sternness)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Severe
Example:
a harsh penalty
Classified under:
Similar:
heavy (unusually great in degree or quantity or number)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Unkind or cruel or uncivil
Example:
a rough answer
Synonyms:
harsh; rough
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
unkind (lacking kindness)
Derivation:
harshness (the quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Unpleasantly stern
Example:
the nomad life is rough and hazardous
Synonyms:
harsh; rough
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
unpleasant (offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness)
Derivation:
harshness (excessive sternness)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses
Example:
harsh irritating smoke filled the hallway
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
unpleasant (offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness)
Derivation:
harshness (the quality of being harsh or rough or grating to the senses)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
Example:
a coarse weave
Synonyms:
coarse; harsh
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
coarse-grained; large-grained (not having a fine texture)
coarse-grained; farinaceous; grainy; granular; granulose; gritty; mealy (composed of or covered with particles resembling meal in texture or consistency)
granulated (made grainy or formed into granules)
plush-like; plushy ((of textures) resembling plush)
loose; open ((of textures) full of small openings or gaps)
Also:
rough; unsmooth (having or caused by an irregular surface)
Attribute:
texture (the feel of a surface or a fabric)
Derivation:
harshness (the roughness of a substance that causes abrasions)
Context examples:
However, Uranus will be sending harsh aspects to the new moon of January 24, so you may unexpectedly find out that your partner is not pleased with your plans, creating difficulties.
(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)
He was cold, but not harsh.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
He broke into a harsh laugh.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
“You had my note?” he asked with a deep harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The researchers found that harsh, cold conditions cause tree growth to slow, but they also make trees stronger, so that they can live to a great age.
(Amount of carbon stored in forests reduced as climate warms, University of Cambridge)
Bacillus bacteria form spores that can survive harsh environments and commonly are ingested naturally with vegetables, allowing them to temporarily grow in the intestine.
(Study finds probiotic Bacillus eliminates Staphylococcus bacteria, National Institutes of Health)
It has a harsh, wiry outer coat and dense, soft undercoat that comes in solid black or salt and pepper.
(Giant Schnauzer, NCI Thesaurus)
The unique crisp-textured coat contains a mixture of harsh and soft hair.
(Dandie Dinmont Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)
The peasant, reading the soldier's meaning in his fierce eyes and harsh accents dropped upon his knees, screaming loudly for mercy.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
How often had it lowered on me menace and hate! and how the recollection of childhood's terrors and sorrows revived as I traced its harsh line now!
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
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