1. excessive sternness
e.g. severity of character
the harshness of his punishment was inhuman
the rigors of boot camp
Synonym: severityseverenessrigorrigourrigorousnessrigourousnessinclemencyhardnessstiffness
2. the quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance
3. the roughness of a substance that causes abrasions
Synonym: abrasivenessscratchiness
4. the quality of being unpleasant (harsh or rough or grating) to the senses
Synonym: roughness