From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
harsh
adj 1: unpleasantly stern; "wild and harsh country full of hot sand
and cactus"; "the nomad life is rough and hazardous"
[syn: rough]
2: 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"
3: extremely unkind or cruel; "had harsh words"; "a harsh and
unlovable old tyrant"
4: severe; "a harsh penalty"
5: used of circumstances (especially weather) that cause
suffering; "brutal weather"; "northern winters can be
cruel"; "a cruel world"; "a harsh climate"; "a rigorous
climate"; "unkind winters" [syn: brutal, cruel,
rigorous, unkind]
6: sharply disagreeable; rigorous; "the harsh facts of court
delays"; "an abrasive character" [syn: abrasive]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Harsh \Harsh\ (h[aum]rsh), a. [Compar. Harsher
(h[aum]rsh"[~e]r); superl. Harshest.] [OE. harsk; akin to
G. harsch, Dan. harsk rancid, Sw. h[aum]rsk; from the same
source as E. hard. See Hard, a.]
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.
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2. Unpleasant and repulsive to the sensibilities; austere;
crabbed; morose; abusive; abusive; severe; rough.
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Clarence is so harsh, so blunt. --Shak.
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Though harsh the precept, yet the preacher charmed.
--Dryden.
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3. (Painting, Drawing, etc.) Having violent contrasts of
color, or of light and shade; lacking in harmony.
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