disagreeable or painful to the senses
like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh — Shakespeare
lacking in aesthetic appeal or refinement; crude
harsh colours
unduly exacting; severe
a harsh punishment
said of a climate, conditions, etc: unpleasant; difficult to endure
said of facts, etc: unpalatable; difficult to face
having too strong or rough an effect
harsh soaps
harshen verb
harshly adv
harshness noun
[Middle English harsk, of Scandinavian origin]