# harshness

> English word · Noun · frequency rank #44,246

## Definitions
1. The quality of being harsh.

## Etymology
From Middle English harsknes; equivalent to harsh + -ness.

## Easily confused with
- **harness** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/harness-vs-harshness)
- **hardness** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hardness-vs-harshness)
- **Harkness** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/harkness-vs-harshness)

## Common misspellings (13)
`ahrshness`, `harhsness`, `harrshness`, `harshenss`, `harshhness`, `harshnes`, `harshnness`, `harshnses`, `harsnhess`, `harsshness`, `hasrhness`, `hharshness`, `hrashness`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/harshness