Cruel vs. Harsh — What's the Difference?

Disposed to inflict pain or suffering

Unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses

Causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or distress

Cruel or severe

Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.

Disagreeable to the sense of hearing

Harsh; severe.

Disagreeable to the sense of sight

(slang) Cool; awesome; neat.

Unpleasantly coarse and rough to the touch

(nonstandard) To a great degree; terribly.

Unpleasant, uncomfortable, or hostile to survival

To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)

Severe, cruel, or exacting

To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.

Disagreeable to the mind or feelings

See Crewel.

Expressing displeasure or disapproval

Disposed to give pain to others; willing or pleased to hurt, torment, or afflict; destitute of sympathetic kindness and pity; savage; inhuman; hard-hearted; merciless.

Unpleasantly rough to the touch or other senses.

Causing, or fitted to cause, pain, grief, or misery.

Severe or cruel.

Attended with cruetly; painful; harsh.

To negatively criticize.

Lacking or showing kindness or compassion or mercy

To put a damper on (a mood).

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering;

Rough; disagreeable; grating

(of weapons or instruments) causing suffering and pain;

Unpleasant and repulsive to the sensibilities; austere; crabbed; morose; abusive; abusive; severe; rough.

Used of circumstances (especially weather) that cause suffering;

Having violent contrasts of color, or of light and shade; lacking in harmony.

Unpleasantly stern;

Disagreeable to the senses;

Extremely unkind or cruel;

Severe;

Used of circumstances (especially weather) that cause suffering;

Sharply disagreeable; rigorous;