harshness

• Nom désignant la qualité de ce qui est dur, rude, désagréable pour les sens, cruel ou excessivement sévère.

A noun referring to the quality of being rough, unpleasant to the senses, cruel, or excessively stern.

indénombrable

1. Physical roughnessB2formal

   The quality of a surface being coarse or abrasive, capable of causing friction or damage when touched.

   Rugosité physique

   • The harshness of the sandpaper wore down the wood quickly.
   • He could feel the harshness of the stone wall against his palm.
   • The harshness of the desert terrain made travel difficult.

   Synonymesabrasivenessasperitycoarsenessroughnessscratchinessunevenness

   Antonymesgentlenessmildnesssmoothnesssoftness

2. Unpleasant sensory qualityB2formal

   The property of being disagreeable to the senses, such as a grating sound, a bitter taste, or a glaring light.

   Caractère désagréable pour les sens

   • The harshness of the alarm clock jolted her awake.
   • He winced at the harshness of the lemon juice on his cut.
   • The harshness of the fluorescent lighting gave everyone a headache.

   Synonymesacriditybitternessgratingraspingroughnessshrillnessstridency

   Antonymesgentlenessmellownesssoftnesssweetness

3. Cruelty or severityB2formal

   The quality of being unkind, strict, or severe in manner or treatment, often creating tension or discomfort.

   Dureté, sévérité

   • The harshness of his criticism left her feeling humiliated.
   • The teacher's harshness intimidated the younger students.
   • She could not tolerate the harshness of the workplace culture.

   Synonymesausteritybrutalitycrueltyhardnessrigourseveritysternnessstrictnessunkindness

   Antonymesgentlenesskindnessleniencymildnesssoftness

4. Excessive sternnessC1formal

   An extreme degree of strictness or inflexibility, often lacking compassion or leniency.

   Sévérité excessive

   • The harshness of the judge's sentence was criticized by activists.
   • Living under such harshness, the prisoners despaired.
   • The manager's harshness drove away several talented employees.

   Synonymesausterityhardnessinflexibilityrelentlessnessrigidityseveritysternnessstrictness

   Antonymesclemencyforbearancegentlenessindulgenceleniencymildnesspermissivenesssoftness