Antonyms for harsh
hɑrʃharsh

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. harsh

   Acid, sour, and bitter agree in being contrasted with sweet, but the two former are sharply distinguished from the latter. Acid or sour is the taste of vinegar or lemon-juice; bitter that of quassia, quinine, or strychnine. Acrid is nearly allied to bitter. Pungent suggests the effect of pepper or snuff on the organs of taste or smell; as, a pungent odor. Caustic indicates the corroding effect of some strong chemical, as nitrate of silver. In a figurative sense, as applied to language or character, these words are very closely allied. We say a sour face, sharp words, bitter complaints, caustic wit, cutting irony, biting sarcasm, a stinging taunt, harsh judgment, a tart reply. Harsh carries the idea of intentional and severe unkindness, bitter of a severity that arises from real or supposed ill treatment. The bitter speech springs from the sore heart. Tart and sharp utterances may not proceed from an intention to wound, but merely from a wit recklessly keen; cutting, stinging, and biting speech indicates more or less of hostile intent, the latter being the more deeply malicious. The caustic utterance is meant to burn, perhaps wholesomely, as in the satire of Juvenal or Cervantes. Compare MOROSE.

   Antonyms:
   dulcet, honeyed, luscious, nectared, saccharine, sweet

   Synonyms:
   acerb, acetous, acid, acidulated, acidulous, acrid, acrimonious, biting, bitter, caustic, cutting, irate, pungent, savage, sharp, sour, stinging, tart, vinegarish, virulent

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. harsh

   Antonyms:
   smooth, melodious, lenient, suave, bland, gentle, genial, kindly

   Synonyms:
   rough, grating, severe, sharp, rugged, acrimonious, abusive, soul-jarring, rancorous, rigorous, discordant, gruff

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:4.2 / 5 votes

1. harsh, roughadjective

   unpleasantly stern

   "wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus"; "the nomad life is rough and hazardous"

   Antonyms:
   light, pleasant, agreeable, kind

   Synonyms:
   bumpy, approximative, rough, raspy, jolting, pugnacious, jolty, crude, gravelly, rocky, coarse, fierce, abrasive, scratchy, jumpy, boisterous, grating, approximate, unsmooth, uncut, rasping

2. harshadjective

   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"

   Antonyms:
   pleasant, light, agreeable, kind

   Synonyms:
   rough, coarse, abrasive

3. coarse, harshadjective

   of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles

   "coarse meal"; "coarse sand"; "a coarse weave"

   Antonyms:
   kind, pleasant, agreeable, light

   Synonyms:
   coarse, rough-cut, vulgar, uncouth, abrasive, rough, common

4. harsh, roughadjective

   unkind or cruel or uncivil

   "had harsh words"; "a harsh and unlovable old tyrant"; "a rough answer"

   Antonyms:
   kind, light, pleasant, agreeable

   Synonyms:
   bumpy, approximative, rough, raspy, jolting, pugnacious, jolty, crude, gravelly, rocky, coarse, fierce, abrasive, scratchy, jumpy, boisterous, grating, approximate, unsmooth, uncut, rasping

5. harshadjective

   severe

   "a harsh penalty"

   Antonyms:
   kind, light, pleasant, agreeable

   Synonyms:
   rough, coarse, abrasive

6. harsh, abrasiveadjective

   sharply disagreeable; rigorous

   "the harsh facts of court delays"; "an abrasive character"

   Antonyms:
   pleasant, kind, light, agreeable

   Synonyms:
   rough, coarse, abrasive, scratchy

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. harshadjective

   Synonyms:
   inharmonious, rough, disagreeable, unpleasant, raucous, dissonant, strident, discordant, cacophonous, austere, morose, severe, ungracious, inurbane, discourteous, churlish, uncivil, blunt, bluff, brusque, acrimonious, caustic, acrid, repulsive

How to use harsh in a sentence?

1. Scott Wiener:

   Right now HIV is singled out for uniquely harsh treatment as a felony.

2. Hassan Omar:

   We were surprised to see the army there, they were very harsh with us. It felt like a death machine, not humans dealing with us.

3. Bezalel Smotrich:

   It is permissible to protest, to shout and to say harsh words, and not every harsh word is incitement. It is not the harsh words that caused the prime minister’s murder — it was a despicable murderer in Yigal Amir.

4. Michael Main:

   In the 20 years of law enforcement service I have never left a weapon anywhere, i am prepared for the harsh criticism that will follow the release of this information. I understand clearly that I have a higher level of standard that must be met and quite frankly I let myself, my family and the community down.

5. England Bishop Trevor Willmott:

   When we become harsh with each other and forget our humanity then we end up in these stand-off positions.

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