asperity

[US]/ə'sperɪtɪ/
[UK]/æ'spɛrəti/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

n. roughness or harshness in surface or weather; roughness or rudeness in behavior or environment; harshness in sound.

Example Sentences

The asperity of his tone made her feel uncomfortable.

The asperity of the weather made it difficult to go outside.

His asperity towards his colleagues caused tension in the office.

She couldn't handle the asperity of his criticism and broke down in tears.

The asperity in her voice indicated she was not pleased with the situation.

He faced the asperity of the challenge head-on.

The asperity of the economic downturn affected businesses across the country.

She tried to soften the asperity of her words with a smile.

The asperity of the terrain made the hike more challenging.

His asperity towards failure drove him to work harder.

Real-world Examples

" I listen, Ron, " said Hermione, with a touch of asperity.

Source: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

" No, I dare say not, " said the professor with asperity.

Source: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: New Cases (Volume 1)

'But it is my column, ' she said, with smiling asperity.

Source: Lovers in the Tower (Part 1)

Lavinia said with a touch of asperity that was foreign to her.

Source: A handsome face.

I thought you wrote with rather more asperity than simple literary discussion required'.

Source: A pair of blue eyes (Part 1)

Then, seeing that Sara looked slightly chilled by her asperity, she changed her manner.

Source: The Little Princess (Original Version)

But his mother interrupted him with some asperity: " It seems very strange that you always object to going anywhere among OUR friends, Walter" .

Source: Lonely Heart (Part 1)

At a period of life when the asperities of other men are softened and their angles smoothed, the disposition of this man became more and more aggressive.

Source: Lily of the Valley (Part 1)

" Some instinct told me so, " said the old gentleman, putting on his spectacles, and looking over them at me with asperity, while he folded his paper into a convenient shape.

Source: The Short Stories of Mark Twain

Her tone, as she uttered the exclamation, had a plaintive and really exquisite melody thrilling through it, yet without subduing a certain something which an obtuse auditor might still have mistaken for asperity.

Source: Seven-angled Tower (Part 1)

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