asperity

noun

ə-ˈsper-ə-tē How to pronounce asperity (audio)
Definition of asperitynext
1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality doesn't like the asperity of most experimental music

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in severity
biting sharpness of feeling or expression she responded with such asperity that we knew she was deeply offended by the question

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal He overcame his share of asperities on the road to success.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of asperity Faults typically contain surface irregularities, known as asperities, which prevent smooth movement between tectonic plates. — Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025 What gives the movie much of its poignancy and power is Hart’s realization, and ours, that the asperity and regret showcased in his famous lyrics are no longer in fashion. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Oct. 2025 Advertisement On a re-read, Orwell’s narrative holds up, in large part due to the asperity of the prose and the prescient description of how fascism can creep into any society that takes freedom for granted. — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023 Her asperity has brought upon her the full flaming rage of the Twittersphere. — Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 2 Oct. 2022 Imagine Don Draper’s grasp of American psychopathology delivered with the pithy asperity of Emily Dickinson. — Megan O’Grady, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2020 By the time Keane wrote Devoted Ladies, a note of asperity had crept into her fiction. — Francine Prose, The New York Review of Books, 22 Nov. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asperity
  1. bitterness
  2. severity
  3. hardship
  4. edge
  5. hostility
  6. difficulty
  7. bite
  8. virulence
Noun
  • Little united the Syrian rebels during the country’s civil war from 2011 to 2024 outside of their hatred of Assad, and Damascus has sought to cultivate this memory of bitterness to keep the country’s disparate groups together.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The tea supplies tannins and bitterness while maple and orange recreate that familiar balance of sweet, bitter and citrus.
    — Ryan Brennan August 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • But researchers stress that the more concerning trends are the severity of the injuries and the fact that they’re especially pronounced among children.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers found a relationship between the apparent covertness of the recording devices and the severity of the harassment.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Some federal loans sometimes also qualify for loan forgiveness, hardship relief, and deferment and forbearance options that can impact your repayment timeline.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Economic hardship for working families and young people exacerbates their frustration and disenfranchisement, while a tepid Democratic leadership response adds to anti-establishment sentiment.
    — Andrew Cuomo, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of hardship
Noun
  • The scientists used cutting-edge airborne laser scanning technology and found hundreds of previously unknown earthworks.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The edges of your lawn and garden provide the perfect habitat for these plants, while fences and retaining walls can give support to growing poison ivy vines.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • Iran doubled down on its demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, insisting that the US and its allies unfreeze its assets and end hostilities across the region.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • As the specter of rising interest rates and hostilities in the Middle East remain wildcards, skeptics are holding firm.
    — Bloomberg, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • Government agencies’ own survey responses provide little evidence that pension benefits are driving any recruitment difficulties.
    — Mariana Trujillo, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The church has no difficulty prescribing specifics when the subject is autonomous lethal weapons.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficulty
Noun
  • Every bite reflects Georgia’s crossroads of cultures, blending East and West into something uniquely delicious.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
  • According to the International Shark Attack File, there were 105 shark-human interactions and just 65 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2025.
    — Mason Leib, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Firefighters and authorities in both European countries were caught off guard by the virulence of the fires, which were fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • The virulence of the French and Spanish wildfires, fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change, caught fire crews and authorities off guard.
    — Mark Carlson, Fortune, 25 July 2026
Definition of virulence

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Cite this Entry

“Asperity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asperity. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of asperity for Spanish Speakers

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