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harshunpleasantly hard or rough to the senses; cruel or severe

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: unpleasantly hard or rough to the senses; cruel or severe

Pronunciation (IPA): /hɑːrʃ/

Korean meaning: 거칠고 불쾌한; 가혹한, 혹독한

Korean pronunciation: 하르쉬 (강세: 하르쉬)

Example Sentences

  • My teacher's harsh grading made me study harder than a marathon runner trains.
  • The harsh fluorescent lighting in the office made everyone look like zombies.
  • His harsh words hurt more than stepping on a LEGO brick barefoot.

harsh

ADJECTIVE

//hɑːrʃ//

unpleasantly hard or rough to the senses; cruel or severe

harsh concept
💡 Concept

The feedback was harsh — but every word of it was true.

harsh mnemonic english
🧠 Mnemonic

SHush. Harsh silence hits harder than any word. (HAR(d) + SH(ush) → Something HARD that makes you go SHush — harsh)

harsh rhyme
🎵 Rhyme

Harsh words clash — and everything crashes after.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/hɑːrʃ/
🇬🇧 UK/hɑːʃ/

🌳Etymology

Rootharsh

Origin

From Old Norse 'harðr' meaning hard or severe, which came from Proto-Germanic roots. The word entered Middle English through Scandinavian influence during the Viking period.

🎵Rhyme

marshharsh
marsh
harsh

🔗Collocations

harsh criticism
harsh reality
harsh weather
harsh punishment
harsh voice
harsh light
harsh treatment

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My teacher's harsh grading made me study harder than a marathon runner trains.

😄 Fun example

The harsh fluorescent lighting in the office made everyone look like zombies.

😄 Fun example

His harsh words hurt more than stepping on a LEGO brick barefoot.

The harsh economic conditions forced many small businesses to close.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

severecruelroughbrutalstern

Antonyms

gentlemildsoft

Related

stricttoughrigidunforgiving

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