H'ARSH, adjective 1. Rough to the touch; rugged; grating; as harsh sand; harsh cloth; opposed to smooth. 2. Sour; rough to the taste; as harsh fruit. 3. Rough to the ear; grating; discordant; jarring; as a harsh sound; harsh notes; a harsh voice. 4. Austere; crabbed; morose; peevish. Civilization softens the harsh temper or nature of man. 5. Rough; rude; abusive; as harsh words; a harsh reflection. 6. Rigorous; severe. Though harsh the precept, yet the preacher charm'd.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI