1 C1 informal
To make something, especially language or behavior, less harsh, severe, or aggressive.
"You might want to harsh down your critique a little — the team already knows they made a mistake."
separable
harsh down
C1 informal separable transitive
To reduce the harshness or severity of something, such as language, criticism, or a policy.
In plain English
To make something less hard, strict, or severe.
What does "harsh down" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To bring harshness downward — i.e., to reduce its level.
Actually means
To make something less hard, strict, or severe.
Usage tip
Relatively rare and informal. Not widely documented in major dictionaries. Mostly found in informal American speech. Likely an extension of 'harsh' used as a verb. Speakers more commonly use 'tone down' or 'soften'.
Words that pair with "harsh down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
language criticism tone message rhetoric
How to conjugate "harsh down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
harsh down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
harshes down
he/she/it
Past simple
harshed down
yesterday
Past participle
harshed down
have + pp
-ing form
harshing down
continuous
Hear "harsh down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "harsh down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.