Definitions
- Describing a tone of voice or language that is critical, severe, or blunt. - Referring to weather conditions that are unpleasant, severe, or extreme. - Talking about a situation or circumstance that is difficult, challenging, or unfavorable.
- Describing behavior or actions that intentionally cause harm, suffering, or pain to others or animals. - Referring to a situation or circumstance that is unjust, unfair, or oppressive. - Talking about a person who lacks empathy, kindness, or compassion towards others.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe negative qualities or situations.
- 2Both can be used to describe people, behavior, or circumstances.
- 3Both have negative connotations and are generally not desirable traits.
- 4Both can cause emotional or physical harm to others.
- 5Both can be used to describe situations that are difficult or unpleasant.
What is the difference?
- 1Intent: Harsh implies a lack of consideration or tact, while cruel implies intentional harm or malice.
- 2Scope: Cruel is typically more severe than harsh and involves causing significant harm or suffering.
- 3Target: Harsh can be directed towards behavior or actions, while cruel is usually directed towards people or animals.
- 4Emotion: Harsh may not necessarily involve negative emotions, while cruel often involves feelings of anger, hatred, or sadism.
- 5Justification: Harsh may be justified in certain situations, such as constructive criticism, while cruel is rarely justifiable.
Remember this!
Harsh and cruel are both negative words that describe unpleasant qualities or situations. However, the difference between harsh and cruel lies in their intent, scope, target, emotion, and justification. Harsh implies a lack of consideration or tact, while cruel implies intentional harm or malice. Cruel is typically more severe than harsh and involves causing significant harm or suffering, usually directed towards people or animals.
