Noun

• S: (n) harshness, abrasiveness, scratchiness (the roughness of a substance that causes abrasions)
• S: (n) harshness, roughness (the quality of being harsh or rough or grating to the senses)
• S: (n) cruelty, cruelness, harshness (the quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance)
• S: (n) severity, severeness, harshness, rigor, rigour, rigorousness, rigourousness, inclemency, hardness, stiffness (excessive sternness) "severity of character"; "the harshness of his punishment was inhuman"; "the rigors of boot camp"