harshness
/ˈhɑːʃnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːrʃnəs/ (ame, ipa)
harshness — noun
1. the quality of treating people in a cruel or severe way, without showing kindnes
the quality of treating people in a cruel or severe way, without showing kindness or sympathy — for example, a teacher who gives unfairly harsh punishments, or a manager who criticises employees in front of others
Wei could not forget the harshness her supervisor showed during the team meeting.
harshness + showed + during [event]
The harshness of the prison guards' treatment drew criticism from human rights groups.
harshness of + possessive noun
Ana grew up under the harshness of a regime that punished dissent without mercy.
What surprised the staff most was the harshness in their usually kind manager's voice.
The judge was known for the harshness of his sentences toward first-time offenders.
- severity
slightly more formal; often used for rules and punishments rather than personal treatment
- cruelty
stronger; implies a deliberate wish to cause pain, not just strictness
- strictness
more neutral; can describe fair but firm rules, not necessarily unkind
- kindness
general opposite; treating people with care and warmth
- gentleness
soft opposite; handling others in a mild, careful way
文法句型
harshness + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'of' plus a noun phrase naming the source of the harsh behaviour (e.g. 'the harshness of the regime', 'the harshness of her criticism').
常見錯誤
2. how unpleasant something feels to the senses when it is excessively strong, brig
how unpleasant something feels to the senses when it is excessively strong, bright, loud, or rough — for example, blinding midday sun, a grating voice, or a scratchy woollen fabric
The harshness of the desert sun made it impossible to walk without a hat.
harshness of [sun / light]
Chen complained about the harshness of the hotel towels against his sunburned skin.
harshness of [fabric / surface]
The harshness of the noon light forced Lucia to close the curtains.
Hikers in the mountains quickly learned about the harshness of the winter wind.
The harshness of the loudspeaker's static made it hard to hear the train announcement.
- softness
opposite for texture, sound, and light quality
- gentleness
opposite for weather and touch
文法句型
harshness + of + noun (sensory source)
用法筆記
Used with nouns that describe sensory stimuli — light, sound, texture, weather, and taste. Distinguish from sense 1 (UNKIND TREATMENT), where the severity is about behaviour rather than physical sensation.