harsh
/hɑːʃ/adjective
उच्चारण हार्श
कठोर, निर्दयी
Core wordPYP · asked 15 times
Asked in previous papers
as antonym
+10 more
SSC CHSL Pre 2023SSC CHSL Pre 2021SSC CHSL Pre 2020SSC MTS 2025SSC MTS 2023SSC MTS 2021SSC MTS 2019SSC Steno 2025SSC Selection Post Phase 13 2025SSC Exams before 2018- 1
cruel, severe and unkind
कठोर, निर्दयी
- The punishment was too harsh for such a small mistake.
- harsh words
- The judge gave a harsh sentence.
+ 2 more examples
- The teacher's harsh words made the child cry.
- Radhika never uses harsh language with her students.
- 2
(of weather or living conditions) very difficult and unpleasant
(मौसम या परिस्थिति) कठोर, विषम
- a harsh winter
- Life in the desert is harsh, with scorching heat and very little water.
- The harsh winter killed many animals.
+ 2 more examples
- They lived in harsh conditions in the mountains.
- The harsh climate of the desert tests every traveller.
Opposite mild
- 3
(of light, colour or sound) too strong or rough and unpleasant
(रोशनी, रंग, आवाज़) कर्कश, चुभने वाला
- a harsh light
- a harsh voice
- The harsh glare of the sun hurt our eyes.
+ 2 more examples
- He spoke in a harsh tone.
- The harsh sound of the horn made me jump.
Opposite soft
§Structures (grammar patterns) 5
harsh on / to / with sb
Use on, to or with for a person who is treated severely.
जिस व्यक्ति के साथ कठोर व्यवहार हो, उसके लिए on, to या with आता है।
- The teacher was too harsh on the weak students.
harsh + noun
It describes strict rules, climate, words, light or sounds.
यह कठोर नियम, जलवायु, शब्द, प्रकाश या ध्वनि का वर्णन करता है।
- Ladakh has a harsh winter.
harshly / harshness
The adverb and noun follow the usual forms.
Adverb और noun सामान्य रूप में बनते हैं।
- He spoke harshly to the clerk.
- The harshness of the sentence shocked everyone.
harsh realities / harsh truth
Harsh goes with reality and truth when they are unpleasant but must be faced.
जब वास्तविकता या सच अप्रिय हो पर उसका सामना करना पड़े, तब 'harsh' reality या truth के साथ आता है।
- She had to face the harsh reality of failure.
harsh vs hard
Hard describes difficulty; harsh describes cruelty or discomfort, so a hard exam is not a harsh exam.
'Hard' कठिनाई बताता है; 'harsh' क्रूरता या असुविधा बताता है, इसलिए कठिन परीक्षा 'harsh' नहीं कही जाती।
- The exam was hard, but the examiner's remarks were harsh.
+Collocations 4
harsh + noun
punishmentcriticismclimaterealitywords
- The report offered harsh criticism of the plan.
adverb + harsh
unusuallyneedlesslyextremelyrather
- The order seemed needlessly harsh.
verb + harsh
soundseemfeelprove
- His tone sounded harsh.
harsh + noun (nature)
wintersunlightterrainchemicalsenvironment
- Harsh chemicals can damage the cloth.
“More examples 5
- The soldiers live in harsh conditions on the Siachen glacier.
सैनिक सियाचिन ग्लेशियर पर कठोर परिस्थितियों में रहते हैं।
- Do not use harsh soap on a baby's skin.
शिशु की त्वचा पर तेज़ साबुन का प्रयोग मत कीजिए।
- That was a harsh thing to say to a friend.
किसी मित्र से ऐसा कहना कठोर बात थी।
- The harsh sound of the horn woke the whole street.
हॉर्न की कर्कश आवाज़ ने पूरी गली को जगा दिया।
- Summers in Rajasthan can be harsh.
राजस्थान की गर्मियाँ कठोर हो सकती हैं।
!Common mistakes 3
✗ He was harsh against the students.
✓ He was harsh with the students.
Hindi 'chhatron ke khilaf' pushes students to use against, but against means opposed to; harsh takes with, on or to.
हिंदी के 'छात्रों के विरुद्ध' के कारण विद्यार्थी 'against' लगाते हैं, परंतु उसका अर्थ विरोध में है; 'harsh' के साथ with, on या to आता है।
✗ The punishment was too much harsh.
✓ The punishment was too harsh.
Too already carries the idea of excess, so much cannot be placed between too and the adjective.
'Too' में अधिकता का भाव पहले से है, इसलिए too और adjective के बीच much नहीं लगता।
✗ The teacher spoke harsh to him.
✓ The teacher spoke harshly to him.
A word that tells how someone spoke describes the verb, so the adverb harshly is needed.
जो शब्द बताता है कि कोई कैसे बोला, वह verb का वर्णन करता है; इसलिए adverb 'harshly' चाहिए।
≠Thesaurus: which synonym when
Harsh, severe and strict all suggest hardness, but they point to different things.
Harsh, severe और strict तीनों कठोरता का भाव देते हैं, पर अलग-अलग बातों की ओर संकेत करते हैं।
Unpleasant and without kindness; also rough to the senses.
अप्रिय और दयारहित; इंद्रियों को भी कठोर लगने वाला।
- The judge's words were harsh.
Very serious or extreme in degree.
बहुत गंभीर या अत्यधिक मात्रा का।
- A severe drought hit the region.