Definition

Noun 1. The quality of being unpleasantly rough, jarring, or grating to the senses. * The harshness of the fabric made it uncomfortable to wear. * The harshness of the bright fluorescent lights gave her a headache. 2. Severity, cruelty, or a lack of kindness in manner, treatment, or conditions. * The harshness of the winter made survival difficult. * He spoke with a surprising harshness that hurt her feelings. 3. The quality of being excessively strict, severe, or unyielding. * The harshness of the sentence shocked the public. * The coach was known for the harshness of his training methods.

Examples of Usage

• Sensory Harshness:
  • The harshness of the lemon made her pucker her lips.
  • We added a filter to reduce the harshness of the sound.
• Cruel or Severe Harshness:
  • The documentary revealed the harshness of life in the refugee camp.
  • There was no need for such harshness in your criticism.
• Strict or Unyielding Harshness:
  • The judge showed no mercy; the harshness of the ruling was final.
  • The harshness of the school's discipline policy was debated by parents.

Advanced Usage

• "to temper the harshness": to soften or reduce the severity of something.
  • A touch of honey can temper the harshness of the strong tea.
  • He tried to temper the harshness of his words with a gentle tone.
• "the full harshness of": experiencing the complete, unmitigated severity of something.
  • The settlers felt the full harshness of the frontier winter.

Variants and Related Words

• Harsh (adjective): having the qualities of harshness.
  • Harsh sunlight, a harsh critic, harsh conditions.
• Harshly (adverb): in a harsh manner.
  • He was treated harshly. The light shone harshly.

Synonyms

• Sensory: roughness, abrasiveness, coarseness, grating quality, discordance.
• Severity/Cruelty: severity, cruelty, brutality, ruthlessness, hardness, sternness.
• Strictness: rigor, strictness, inflexibility, austerity.

Antonyms

• Sensory: softness, smoothness, mellowness, gentleness.
• Severity/Cruelty: kindness, gentleness, leniency, mercy, compassion.
• Strictness: leniency, flexibility, mildness.

Noun

1. excessive sternness
   • severity of character
   • the harshness of his punishment was inhuman
   • the rigors of boot camp
2. the quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance
3. the quality of being unpleasant (harsh or rough or grating) to the senses
4. the roughness of a substance that causes abrasions