Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [hahrsh]
- /hɑrʃ/
- /ˈhɑːʃnɪs/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [hahrsh]
- /hɑrʃ/
Definitions of harshness word
- adjective harshness ungentle and unpleasant in action or effect: harsh treatment; harsh manners. 1
- adjective harshness grim or unpleasantly severe; stern; cruel; austere: a harsh life; a harsh master. 1
- adjective harshness physically uncomfortable; desolate; stark: a harsh land. 1
- adjective harshness unpleasant to the ear; grating; strident: a harsh voice; a harsh sound. 1
- adjective harshness unpleasantly rough, ragged, or coarse to the touch: a harsh surface. 1
- adjective harshness jarring to the eye or to the esthetic sense; unrefined; crude; raw: harsh colors. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of harshness
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; Middle English harsk; cognate with German harsch, Danish harsk rancid
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Harshness
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
harshness popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
According to our data about 63% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
harshness usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for harshness
noun harshness
- cruelty — Cruelty is behaviour that deliberately causes pain or distress to people or animals.
- brutality — Brutality is cruel and violent treatment or behaviour. A brutality is an instance of cruel and violent treatment or behaviour.
- anger — Anger is the strong emotion that you feel when you think that someone has behaved in an unfair, cruel, or unacceptable way.
- tyranny — arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority. Synonyms: despotism, absolutism, dictatorship.
- acerbity — Acerbity is a kind of bitter, critical humour.
Antonyms for harshness
noun harshness
- kindness — the state or quality of being kind: kindness to animals.
- niceness — pleasing; agreeable; delightful: a nice visit.
- gentleness — kindly; amiable: a gentle manner.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with h
- Words starting with ha
- Words starting with har
- Words starting with hars
- Words starting with harsh
- Words starting with harshn
- Words starting with harshne
- Words starting with harshnes
- Words starting with harshness