harshness

/ˈhɑrʃnɪs/
/ˈhɑʃnɛs/
IPA guide

Other forms: harshnesses

Definitions of harshness
  1. noun
    the quality of being unpleasant (harsh or rough or grating) to the senses
    synonyms: roughness
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    types:
    gruffness, hoarseness, huskiness
    a throaty harshness
    type of:
    unpleasantness
    the quality of giving displeasure
  2. noun
    the roughness of a substance that causes abrasions
    synonyms: abrasiveness, scratchiness
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    type of:
    raggedness, roughness
    a texture of a surface or edge that is not smooth but is irregular and uneven
  3. noun
    the quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance
    synonyms: cruelness, cruelty
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    types:
    brutality, ferociousness, savagery, viciousness
    the trait of extreme cruelty
    murderousness
    cruelty evidence by a capability to commit murder
    type of:
    malevolence, malevolency, malice
    the quality of threatening evil
  4. noun
    excessive sternness
    “the harshness of his punishment was inhuman”
    synonyms: austerity, hardness, inclemency, rigor, rigorousness, rigour, rigourousness, severeness, severity, stiffness
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    type of:
    sternness, strictness
    uncompromising resolution
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