harshly

adverb

Definition of harshlynext
as in severely
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering treated the prisoners harshly, and many died

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of harshly Hair in Sports Women are often judged more harshly than male counterparts in many aspects of life, but this is especially true in sports. — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026 But their complaints come as Lecornu's government seeks to rein in public spending to appease skittish bond markets, which have punished France more harshly than many of its peers this year, amid a global bond market rout. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 His government has also been harshly criticized for a migration crisis in Ceuta. — Joseph Wilson, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026 Some are condemned swiftly and harshly, others are shrugged off almost entirely. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Meta has been judged harshly for spending billions of dollars on AI without becoming a leader in the technology, so Muse’s popularity surprised some, according to Jefferies senior analyst Brent Thill. — Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026 Johnson has harshly criticized Villegas’ ordinance, a sign the mayor is likely to veto the measure if a compromise is not reached. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026 Focus on crevices and edges where grease and debris tend to accumulate, but avoid scrubbing too harshly. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026 Real Betis forward Abde Ezzalzouli, who plays for Morocco, was harshly criticized by some Moroccan fans on social media when images of him wearing the shirt in support of Ceuta began to circulate. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshly
  1. severely
  2. oppressively
  3. brutally
  4. hard
Adverb
  • Many of the children's bodies were severely decomposed, with only 26 able to be identified, and investigations into the other deaths are ongoing.
    — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • At least one case of congenital measles led to a death; the first death reported in the current outbreak was in a newborn baby boy, who died immediately after birth while his mother was severely ill with measles.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of severely
Adverb
  • The summer had seen Europe endure an oppressively dry, hot summer, which had seen wildfires spring up across the continent.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • After a bit of a reprieve from an oppressively hot summer, another heat wave is set to scorch Southern California this week.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppressively
Adverb
  • Witch fever, by this point in history, had become a mechanism for brutally regulating and disciplining female behavior, and doing so intergenerationally.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The flags couldn’t be redder, and Khoshnoudi nimbly sketches out the circuitous emotional paths S takes to avoid seeing them until such evasion suddenly and brutally becomes impossible.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of brutally
Adverb
  • And even DeVonta Smith, who made his return from injury Sunday, landed hard in the fourth quarter and appeared to be shaken up.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Capricorn Moon squares the Sun in your sign, making private responsibilities or family dynamics harder to tune out.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of hard

Browse Nearby Words

harshens
harshly
harshness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Harshly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshly. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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