2 Answers

Severe..cruel..hard...

harsh
(härsh)adj. harsh·er, harsh·est1. Unpleasantly coarse and rough to the touch. See Synonyms at rough.

2. Disagreeable to the senses, especially to the sense of hearing.

3. Severe, cruel, or exacting: harsh punishment; a harsh overseer.

4. Unpleasant or uncomfortable: a harsh wilderness.

[Middle English harsk, of Scandinavian origin.]

harshly adv.

harshness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

harsh [h???]adj1. rough or grating to the senses

2.stern, severe, or cruel[probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Middle Low German harsch, Norwegian harsk rancid]

harshly adv

harshness n