1. harsh
She grew up in the harsh environment of New York City.
Even today, many people live in harsh conditions and total poverty.
harsh outdoor environment
Her harsh manner of speaking doesn't suit her pretty face.
Islamic law, also known as Sharia law, is often associated by critics with harsh punishments and hardline attitudes
In this harsh, petty world where money does the talking, his way of life is like a breath of fresh air.
A prison term of 10 years for stealing some eggs seems a bit harsh.
surowy, ostry, bezlitosny, harshness (n)
harsh clarity
His attempt to shout to the last row makes his voice unpleasantly harsh.
The other interesting point the professor makes is that life may exist in the very harsh Martian environment – because primitive life exists in extreme places on Earth.
He was said to be particularly harsh with anyone who interrupted his nighttime enjoyments.
harsh = stern and unkind
The European Union legalises the harsh and savage exploitation of immigrants and workers as a whole in the European Union.
harsh treatment / a harsh life / a harsh voice / a harsh land / harsh white neon light / a time of harsh military discipline
2. severe
severe life
In severe cases, cracks can form or it can snap apart.
There is a severe shortage of water in this city, so we must give up having a bath occasionally.
The stages of psychosexual development—oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital—turn out to be one big Freudian slip, betraying severe anal retention on the part of the taxonomist.
Company A is trying to play us off against Company B in a severe price-war.
Happy him who with ease can steer, from grave to gay, from lively to severe.
Major Cold: It's the day of the year that the cold is most severe, but you could also say that Spring is just coming around the corner.
A cute kitten can make a giggling mess even out of the most severe übermensch.
Holding the Olympics where there's severe atmospheric pollution gives rise to a great risk for athletes.
This is a school for children with severe learning difficulties. In parts of Africa there is a severe food/water shortage. There is expected to be a severe frost tonight. Severe cutbacks in public spending have been announced.
My condition is so severe that I have to go to hospital. The severe winter killed all of our farm animals.
20 patients suffered from severe side effects. These effects were caused by medicines not connected with the study.
However, he is very severe to those pupils who do not want to study and dislikes those who are arrogant and conceited.
I burned my hand in the hot water. It was pretty severe, so I went to the hospital.
Stalls also can occur at unusually high speeds in severe turbulence or in low level wind shear
3. stern
A smile transformed his stern face. / You'll find I'm stern but fair.
We face stern opposition.
a stern face/expression/look
He looks stern.
Her stern look got him to quit talking.
he looks like a very stern doctor
Silvia had a stern father who never praised her.
His stern tone and loud voice belied his inner sensitivity and caring nature.
He looks stern, but actually he's very kind.
Journalists received a stern warning not to go anywhere near the battleship.
About time we had some stern northern leadership.
Even though the professor was stern, we knew he cared deeply about his students and wanted them all to succeed.
The definition of stern is someone who is very serious or strict.
The box with the baits was under the stern of the skiff.
sterner penalties for drug offences