harsher

ADJECTIVE

rough, crude (to the senses)

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bitter bleak grim hard rigid severe sharp strident

STRONG

coarse

WEAK

acrid asperous astringent cacophonous caterwauling clashing cracked craggy creaking croaking disagreeing discordant dissonant disturbing earsplitting flat glaring grating guttural hoarse incompatible jagged jangling jarring noisy not smooth off-key out-of-key out-of-tune rasping raucous rugged rusty screeching sour stridulous tuneless uneven unlevel unmelodious unmusical unrelenting

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bland bright calm cheerful easy facile flexible kind low mild moderate nice pleasant pliable pliant soft sunny yielding

WEAK

courteous gentle peaceful pleasing polite smooth

ADJECTIVE

nasty, abusive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bitter brutal cruel grim hard punitive relentless rude ruthless severe sharp stern stringent tough unkind unpleasant

WEAK

austere comfortless cussed discourteous dour gruff hairy hard-boiled hard-nosed hard-shell mean pitiless uncivil unfeeling ungracious unrelenting wicked

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agreeable bland calm cheerful compassionate considerate easy facile flexible friendly gentle giving good inexact kind merciful mild nice pleasant sympathetic tolerant wonderful

WEAK

courteous peaceful pleasing polite smooth soft

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Winter weather was harsher than usual, and sometimes a post-holiday lull in consumer spending is bigger than the seasonal adjustments forecast.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026

So far a dozen U.S. crypto ETFs have shut, according to FactSet, but the industry’s next phase may be harsher: The firm’s analysis shows 34 crypto ETFs currently trading are at high risk of closure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

Meanwhile, compounds linked to harsher, resin-like odors decreased.

From Science Daily • May 5, 2026

Susan - whose name we have changed - is a lawyer working with detainees and says conditions in prison have become much harsher.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

The wind blew down the valley, picking up dust and straws, and grew stronger and harsher as it went south.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck