Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Harsh

Harsh

(härsh)
,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Harsher
(härsh′ẽr)
;
sup
erl.
Harshest
.]
[OE.
harsk
; akin to G.
harsch
, Dan.
harsk
rancid, Sw.
härsk
; from the same source as E.
hard
. See
Hard
,
Adj.
]
1.
Rough; disagreeable; grating
;
esp.:
(a)
disagreeable to the touch.
“Harsh sand.”
Boyle.
(b)
disagreeable to the taste.
“Berries harsh and crude.”
Milton.
(c)
disagreeable to the ear.
“Harsh din.”
Milton.
2.
Unpleasant and repulsive to the sensibilities; austere; crabbed; morose; abusive; abusive; severe; rough.
Clarence is so
harsh
, so blunt.
Shakespeare
Though
harsh
the precept, yet the preacher charmed.
Dryden.
3.
(Painting, Drawing, etc.)
Having violent contrasts of color, or of light and shade; lacking in harmony.

Webster 1828 Edition

Harsh

H`ARSH

, a.
1.
Rough to the touch; rugged; grating; as harsh sand; harsh cloth; opposed to smooth.
2.
Sour; rough to the taste; as harsh fruit.
3.
Rough to the ear; grating; discordant; jarring; as a harsh sound; harsh notes; a harsh voice.
4.
Austere; crabbed; morose; peevish. Civilization softens the harsh temper or nature of man.
5.
Rough; rude; abusive; as harsh words; a harsh reflection.
6.
Rigorous; severe.
Though harsh the precept, yet the preacher charm'd.

Definition 2024

harsh

harsh

English

Adjective

harsh ‎(comparative harsher, superlative harshest)

  1. Unpleasantly rough to the touch or other senses.
  2. Severe or cruel.
    • 2011 November 5, Phil Dawkes, “QPR 2 - 3 Man City”, in BBC Sport:
      Great news for City, but the result was harsh on Neil Warnock's side who gave as good as they got even though the odds were stacked against them.

Antonyms

Translations

Verb

harsh ‎(third-person singular simple present harshes, present participle harshing, simple past and past participle harshed)

  1. (intransitive, slang) To negatively criticize.
    Quit harshing me already, I said that I was sorry!
    • 2008, An Na, The Fold‎:
      Stop harshing on yourself. Who said you're the ugly sister?
    • 2009, Richard Powers, Gain:
      “Stop harshing on me, Daddy.” “Harshing?” “Don't yell at me. I didn't do anything.”
  2. (transitive, slang) to put a damper on (a mood).
    Dude, you're harshing my buzz.
    • 1999, Kurt Andersen, Turn of the century‎, page 508:
      On their third date, Lizzie had actually said to him, "You're sort of harshing my mellow." It made him wonder if she might be stupid, and not just young.
    • 2003, Robert Ludlum, The Janson Directive‎, page 355:
      "They're mostly mercenaries these days. But whose?" "Serbian mercenaries? You're harshing my groove, man. I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that...."
    • 2006, MaryJanice Davidson, Undead and Unpopular‎, page 776:
      "Getting back to the issue of the child," Tina said, harshing our buzz as usual, "I really think you should reconsider...."
    • 2008, Kate William, Secrets‎ - Page 70:
      He's totally harshing my vibe," Lila said airily. "Someone should tell him to get over himself. He's lucky I even invited him!"

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology

From Middle English harsk, harisk(e), hask(e), herris. Century derived the term from Old Norse harsk (whence Danish harsk ‎(“rancid”), dialectal Norwegian hersk, Swedish härsk); the Middle English Dictionary derives it from that and Middle Low German harsch ‎(“rough”, literally “hairy”) (whence also German harsch), from haer ‎(“hair”); the Oxford Dictionary of English derives it from Middle Low German alone.

Pronunciation

Similar Results