different between disdainful vs harsh

English

Etymology

disdain +? -ful

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d?s?de?n.f?l/

Adjective

disdainful (comparative more disdainful, superlative most disdainful)

1. Showing contempt or scorn; having a pronounced lack of concern for others viewed as unworthy.

   He was disdainful of those he thought of as the little people. He openly sneered at them. They mocked him behind his back.

   She glimpsed at the people whom she had left behind, and smirked in the most disdainful manner towards them.

Synonyms

• despising, scornful, contemptuous

Antonyms

• respectful

Derived terms

• disdainfully

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English harsk, harisk(e), hask(e), herris. Century derived the term from Old Norse harskr (whence Danish harsk (“rancid”), dialectal Norwegian hersk, Swedish härsk); the Middle English Dictionary derives it from that and Middle Low German harsch (“rough”, literally “hairy”) (whence also German harsch), from haer (“hair”); the Oxford Dictionary of English derives it from Middle Low German alone.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /h???/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /h???/
• Rhymes: -??(?)?

Adjective

harsh (comparative harsher, superlative harshest)

1. Unpleasantly rough to the touch or other senses.
2. Severe or cruel.

Antonyms

• genteel

Translations

Verb

harsh (third-person singular simple present harshes, present participle harshing, simple past and past participle harshed)

1. (intransitive, slang) To negatively criticize.
2. (transitive, slang) to put a damper on (a mood).

Synonyms

• rough

Derived terms

• harshly
• harshness

Translations