ENGLISH
REFERENCE

harsh

adj. · v.
US //ˈhɑɹʃ// UK //hˈɑːʃ// harsh
  1. 1 severe or cruel (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    very strict, unkind, or unfair.

    characterised by severity, cruelty, or an absence of leniency.

    Example

    The teacher's punishment seemed a bit harsh for such a small mistake.

    Example

    The judge was criticised for passing a harsh sentence that failed to account for the defendant's clean prior record.
  2. 2 unpleasant to the senses (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    unpleasantly bright, loud, or rough.

    disagreeable to the physical senses due to excessive intensity or coarseness.

    Example

    The harsh light of the hospital room made my headache feel worse.

    Example

    The architect avoided using harsh fluorescent lighting, opting instead for recessed lamps that created a warmer atmosphere.
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 difficult conditions (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    extremely difficult to live in or survive.

    describing environmental or living conditions that are rigorous or hostile to comfort.

    Example

    Few animals can survive the harsh winters in the high mountains.

    Example

    The expedition was forced to turn back after encountering harsh winds and visibility that dropped to near zero.
  2. 4 to ruin a mood (v.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    to spoil someone's good mood or to be unfairly critical.

    to dampen a positive atmosphere or to criticise someone in a way that ruins their enjoyment.

    Example

    I don't want to harsh your vibe, but we really need to talk about the bill.

    Example

    He didn't mean to harsh the party atmosphere, but his constant complaints about the music eventually drove several guests away.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrase 'harsh my vibe'.
Origin

From Middle English harsk, harisk(e), hask(e), herris. Century derived the term from Old Norse harskr (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”), from Old Saxon hār, from Proto-West Germanic *hār; the Oxford Dictionary of English derives it from Middle Low German alone.

Word family

© 2026 English Reference