What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Harsh vs Harmful - What's the difference?

harsh | harmful |

As adjectives the difference between harsh and harmful

is that harsh is unpleasantly rough to the touch or other senses while harmful is of a kind likely to be damaging; injurious.

As a verb harsh

is to negatively criticize.

harsh

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Unpleasantly rough to the touch or other senses.
  • Severe or cruel.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=November 5 , author=Phil Dawkes , title=QPR 2 - 3 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Great news for City, but the result was harsh on Neil Warnock's side who gave as good as they got even though the odds were stacked against them.}}

    Antonyms

    * genteel

    Verb

    (es)
  • (slang) To negatively criticize.
    • Quit harshing me already, I said that I was sorry!
  • *
  • *
  • (slang) to put a damper on (a mood).
    • Dude, you're harshing my buzz.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *

    • Synonyms

    * rough

    Derived terms

    * harshly * harshness

    harmful

    English

    Alternative forms

    * harmfull (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • of a kind likely to be damaging; injurious
    • Wear a hat to protect your skin from harmful sunlight.

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "harmful" is often applied: effect, consequence, impact, influence, emission, chemical, ingredient, substance, gas, agent, additive, drug, radiation, dust, organism, plant, animal, insect, action, act, behavior, component, content, activity, interference, use.

    Synonyms

    * injurious; see also

    Antonyms

    * beneficial * harmless

    See also

    * harm