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Harsh: meaning, definitions and examples

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harsh

 

[ hɑːrʃ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

weather

Unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses.

Synonyms

bitter, cruel, severe

Examples of usage

  • The harsh wind blew through the town, chilling everyone to the bone.
  • The harsh sunlight beat down on the hikers, making them seek shade.
Context #2 | Adjective

criticism

Cruel or severe in one's actions or words.

Synonyms

ruthless, stern, unforgiving

Examples of usage

  • She gave him a harsh scolding for coming home late.
  • The teacher's harsh feedback discouraged the students.
Context #3 | Adjective

taste

Unpleasantly rough or acidic to the taste.

Synonyms

acrid, pungent, sharp

Examples of usage

  • The medicine had a harsh flavor that made it difficult to swallow.
  • The coffee tasted harsh and bitter without any sugar.

Translations

Translations of the word "harsh" in other languages:

🇵🇹 duro

🇮🇳 कठोर

🇩🇪 hart

🇮🇩 keras

🇺🇦 суворий

🇵🇱 surowy

🇯🇵 厳しい (きびしい)

🇫🇷 dur

🇪🇸 duro

🇹🇷 sert

🇰🇷 엄격한

🇸🇦 قاسٍ

🇨🇿 tvrdý

🇸🇰 tvrdý

🇨🇳 严厉的 (yánlì de)

🇸🇮 strog

🇮🇸 harður

🇰🇿 қатал

🇬🇪 მკაცრი

🇦🇿 sərt

🇲🇽 duro

Etymology

The word 'harsh' originated from the Middle English word 'harsk', which meant rough or severe. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century. Over time, 'harsh' has evolved to encompass various meanings related to unpleasantness, severity, and roughness in different contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,920 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.