make harsh remarks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make harsh remarks" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing someone who is being critical or unkind in their comments or feedback. Example: "During the meeting, she made harsh remarks about the team's performance, which left everyone feeling demoralized."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A crowd of curious men stared down at them and made harsh remarks.

The New Yorker

Her book, The Seven Rules of Success (£7.99 Hodder), is out now The slimmer: Engineer Mark Spry decided to lose at least two-and-a-half stone after his doctor and his girlfriend made harsh remarks about his size.

The Guardian

Late Wednesday, Bing made harsh remarks to the Free Press about what he considered reluctance on the part of City Council and the city unions to go along with his proposal.

Huffington Post

But, although Vidal made "harsh critical remarks" about Oates at every opportunity, Parini explains, he once caught him reading a volume of her essays, and — "he admitted" — enjoying them.

The New Yorker

Don't make harsh decisions.

WikiHow

The former senators made their harsh remarks during a news conference to release their panel's report, titled, "America Still Unprepared, America Still in Danger".

The New York Times

Mr. Gorbachev, in an interview with the BBC in early March, made similarly harsh remarks about Mr. Putin's government, saying it was replete with "thieves and corrupt officials," and he offered a harsh assessment of laws recently adopted in Russia clamping down on nongovernmental organizations.

The New York Times

Love has made harsh and multiple mistakes.

Huffington Post

Stay away from making harsh accusations.

WikiHow

On Sunday, he made his harshest remarks yet about government ties to the nuclear industry, saying it was "exactly the same structure of collusion that I found as health minister during the AIDS blood products problem".

The New York Times

The next time you feel the instinct to make a particularly harsh remark about another's work, pause and ask yourself where that response is coming from.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Before accusing someone of "making harsh remarks", consider their intent and the overall context of the conversation. Ensure your interpretation is fair and accurate.

Common error

Avoid using "make harsh remarks" in casual conversations or light-hearted discussions. It sounds overly formal and intense in situations where a milder expression would be more appropriate. Opt for phrases like "criticize" or "disagree strongly" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make harsh remarks" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of expressing severe or unkind comments. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make harsh remarks" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of expressing severe and often unkind comments. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is deemed correct and usable in written English. While not extremely common, it appears primarily in news and media contexts, conveying a serious and critical tone. Consider alternative phrases like "deliver scathing comments" or "utter severe criticisms" to vary your language. Always be mindful of the potential impact of your words when describing someone making negative comments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliver scathing comments

This suggests the delivery of remarks that are harshly critical and damaging.

voice cutting remarks

This refers to expressing remarks that are intended to be hurtful or damaging.

utter severe criticisms

This alternative highlights the act of expressing strong disapproval or judgment.

express severe criticism

This highlights the act of conveying strong disapproval or judgment, focusing on the delivery of criticism.

level sharp criticisms

This implies directing pointed and forceful criticisms at someone or something.

voice strong disapproval

This option emphasizes the expression of disagreement or objection in a forceful manner.

offer bitter comments

This suggests providing comments that are filled with resentment and negativity.

air strong objections

This emphasizes the public expression of strong disagreement or opposition.

lodge strong complaints

This focuses on the act of formally expressing strong dissatisfaction or grievances.

pass condemnatory judgments

This highlights the act of expressing strong disapproval or condemnation.

FAQs

How can I use "make harsh remarks" in a sentence?

You can use "make harsh remarks" to describe someone being very critical or unkind in their comments. For instance, "The manager "made harsh remarks" during the performance review, demoralizing the team."

What's a less formal way to say "make harsh remarks"?

If you want to express a similar idea in a less formal way, you could say someone "criticized severely", "gave a tongue-lashing", or "ripped into" someone.

What is the difference between "make harsh remarks" and "offer constructive criticism"?

"Make harsh remarks" implies negativity and unkindness, focusing on fault-finding. In contrast, "offer constructive criticism" aims to provide helpful feedback for improvement, even if it involves pointing out flaws.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "make harsh remarks"?

It's appropriate to use "make harsh remarks" when you want to emphasize the severe and often negative nature of someone's comments, especially when those comments cause harm or distress.