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Antonyms for harsh


Grammar : Adj
Spell : hahrsh
Phonetic Transcription : hɑrʃ



Definition of harsh

Origin :
  • originally of texture, "hairy," 1530s, probably from harske "rough, coarse, sour" (c.1300), a northern word of Scandinavian origin (cf. Danish and Norwegian harsk "rancid, rank"), related to Middle Low German harsch "rough, raw," German harst "a rake;" perhaps from PIE root *kars- "to scrape, scratch, rub, card" (cf. Lithuanian karsiu "to comb," Old Church Slavonic krasta, Russian korosta "to itch," Latin carduus "thistle," Sanskrit kasati "rubs, scratches"). Meaning "offensive to feelings" is from 1570s; "disagreeable, rude" from 1610s.
  • adj rough, crude (to the senses)
  • adj nasty, abusive
Example sentences :
  • The Castle of Villefranche was harsh and stern as its master.
  • Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • The Inspector's harsh voice brought out the words boastfully.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • His dreams were all of escape from this grinding, harsh farm.
  • Extract from : « Dust » by Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
  • He perceived that he had become the victim of a harsh and ruthless dealing.
  • Extract from : « Meadow Grass » by Alice Brown
  • Yes, he has been so harsh to you; but it is his nature, he is so to every one, and you are not the only one whom he has bullied.
  • Extract from : « The Black Tulip » by Alexandre Dumas (Pere)
  • At these words the other broke into a short, harsh roar of laughter.
  • Extract from : « The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood » by Howard Pyle
  • Blackguard is a harsh word; but what other will express the idea?
  • Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
  • Even when there were sounds of sorrow among the rest, they were not harsh nor cruel.
  • Extract from : « A Tale of Two Cities » by Charles Dickens
  • All this he did, methodically, and with as loud and harsh an accompaniment of noise as he could make.
  • Extract from : « A Tale of Two Cities » by Charles Dickens
  • I only saw him once, but the gleam in his eyes was as harsh and trenchant as that of a knife.
  • Extract from : « The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete » by Emile Zola

Synonyms for harsh

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019