as in severely
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
treated the prisoners harshly, and many died
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Recent Examples of harshly
Recent changes narrowing the kinds of tasks agencies can perform when funding lapses also mean that shutdowns have the potential to hit a larger number of Americans more harshly than before, Abigail André, the executive director of the Impact Project, told me.
—
Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
The plaintiffs allege that Black employees in the office were disciplined more harshly than their colleagues, denied accommodations and subjected to escalating retaliation after raising concerns about Johnson’s leadership.
—Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
Mendonça was born in 1968, in the early years of a ruthless military dictatorship—a time when cinema, like much else, was harshly constrained.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
The California governor was harshly critical of Senate Democrats when, during the shutdown late last year, a core bloc voted with Republicans to reopen the government without achieving any meaningful concessions in their weeks-long fight over healthcare tax breaks.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
The best passes occur shortly before dawn and after dusk, as the observer is in the dark while the space station is harshly illuminated in sunlight.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The government harshly policed interracial relationships.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Harbaugh must act swiftly and harshly, though, in delivering the change the Giants need.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
As furious protests enter their third week and bring Iran to the precipice of change, the country’s theocratic government is trying to survive by harshly cracking down on the widening demonstrations.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
The plaintiffs allege that Black employees in the office were disciplined more harshly than their colleagues, denied accommodations and subjected to escalating retaliation after raising concerns about Johnson’s leadership.
—Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
Mendonça was born in 1968, in the early years of a ruthless military dictatorship—a time when cinema, like much else, was harshly constrained.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
The California governor was harshly critical of Senate Democrats when, during the shutdown late last year, a core bloc voted with Republicans to reopen the government without achieving any meaningful concessions in their weeks-long fight over healthcare tax breaks.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
The best passes occur shortly before dawn and after dusk, as the observer is in the dark while the space station is harshly illuminated in sunlight.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The government harshly policed interracial relationships.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Harbaugh must act swiftly and harshly, though, in delivering the change the Giants need.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
As furious protests enter their third week and bring Iran to the precipice of change, the country’s theocratic government is trying to survive by harshly cracking down on the widening demonstrations.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harshly
Adverb
-
More severely, two-thirds of Americans believe the federal government is intentionally withholding information, according to a recent poll.—
Kaitlyn Buss,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
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Three years before the balcony collapse that severely injured 10 people, the condo's property manager hired engineers and contractors.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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The first of the four chapters is an oppressively gray-toned, narratively diffuse spy thriller, set amid the mists of what appears to be the Second World War.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
18 Dec. 2025
-
The second planet from the sun has a completely inhospitable surface, with temperatures reaching 863 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius) and a crushing pressure underneath an oppressively thick atmosphere.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Below, Entertainment Weekly catches up with Teddi — who revealed in April 2025 that her cancer had progressed to stage IV — to get an update on her health, hear her dad's brutally honest Masked Singer feedback, and more.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Feb. 2026
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Mired in a brutally disappointing season, the New York Rangers traded star winger Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, just minutes before the NHL Olympic roster freeze.—
Jeff Capellini,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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What has been hardest is seeing ordinary lives, families, young people, civilians slowly reduced to headlines or abstractions, rather than recognized as individuals living under immense and sustained pressure.—
Emily Chan,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
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Essentially, what seem like small tweaks have noticeable impacts on control when pushing the ski hard.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harshly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harshly. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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