What does "asperity" mean?
Asperity: Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates upon the ear; raucity.
Additional senses
- 2.Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness.
- 3.Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity; crabbedness; harshness; -- opposed to mildness. "Asperity of character." Landor. It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received. Johnson.
- 4.Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty. The acclivities and asperities of duty. Barrow. See Acrimony.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
- Canonical URL: https://worddirectanswers.com/answers/what-does-asperity-mean
- Steward: Jason Burns
- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00