harsh

Adjective
Synonyms: roughcoarseabrasive

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (6)

  1. unpleasantly stern“wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus”“the nomad life is rough and hazardous”Synonyms: rough
  2. disagreeable to the senses“the harsh cry of a blue jay”“harsh cognac”“the harsh white light makes you screw up your eyes”“harsh irritating smoke filled the hallway”
  3. of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles“coarse meal”“coarse sand”“a coarse weave”Synonyms: coarse
  4. unkind or cruel or uncivil“had harsh words”“a harsh and unlovable old tyrant”“a rough answer”Synonyms: rough
  5. severe“a harsh penalty”
  6. sharply disagreeable; rigorous“the harsh facts of court delays”“an abrasive character”Synonyms: abrasive
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Harsh \Harsh\ (h[aum]rsh), a. [Compar. Harsher (h[aum]rsh"[~e]r); superl. Harshest.] [OE. harsk; akin to G. harsch, Dan. harsk rancid, Sw. h[aum]rsk; from the same source as E. hard. See Hard, a.]

1.Rough; disagreeable; grating; esp.: (a) disagreeable to the touch. "Harsh sand." --Boyle. (b) disagreeable to the taste. "Berries harsh and crude." --Milton. (c) disagreeable to the ear. "Harsh din." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2.Unpleasant and repulsive to the sensibilities; austere; crabbed; morose; abusive; abusive; severe; rough. [1913 Webster]

Clarence is so harsh, so blunt.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
Though harsh the precept, yet the preacher charmed.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

3.(Painting, Drawing, etc.) Having violent contrasts of color, or of light and shade; lacking in harmony. [1913 Webster]

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