The phrase "a harsh debt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a debt that is particularly burdensome or difficult to manage.
Example: "After losing his job, he found himself struggling under a harsh debt that he couldn't repay."
Alternatives: "a heavy debt" or "a burdensome debt."
The government still refuses to negotiate with the private holders of $20 billion of its bonds who held out against the country's harsh debt restructuring in 2005, a decision that prevents it from borrowing on the international capital markets.
The Citizens Advice analysis of logbook loan cases found that 14% had experienced harsh debt collection practices, while 28% were not treated fairly or appropriately by the lender.
If they are struggling to repay, the consumer may then find themselves on the receiving end of "harsh" debt collection practices.
The company, whose majority owner is the private equity firm Apollo Global Management, is struggling to remain solvent despite continued poor financial performance, a high level of debt and a harsh environment for retailers.
Said differently, debt is a harsh mistress, especially for a startup tech company.
Most important of all, we need a resistance to the spending of future income; a resistance to debt by applying a harsh and rational assessment of what we need as distinct from what we want; a culture of delayed gratification and saving up for inessentials.
Reeling from a harsh economic slowdown, Argentina defaulted on nearly $100 billion of debt in 2001.
Inevitably, something did — and a result was to force much of the advanced world into a harsh process of deleveraging, of slashing spending to pay down debts.
Asian, African and Latin American countries feel, with reason, that the fund has taken a harsher line toward their debt problems than those of richer economies.
Instead, housing officials must either force deadbeat owners to pay their debts, or else foreclose on the buildings and find new owners in a harsh real estate climate.
