harsh reality
Unpleasant but true
Harsh reality refers to an unpleasant truth that must be faced despite one's wishes or denial.
The phrase typically introduces or acknowledges difficult facts: The harsh reality is that most startups fail.
It often contrasts with optimistic expectations or comfortable illusions: She had to confront the harsh reality of her financial situation.
- brutalSavagely harsh or severe
- truthAccordance with reality
- cold truthUncomfortable but accurate assessment
- coldLow temperature state
- bitterSharp, unpleasant taste
unforgiving · wake-up call · slap in the face · sobering · grim · stark · bleak · hard facts · disillusionment · rude awakening · hard truth · moment of truth · unflinching · raw · painful · unvarnished · facts · disappointment
- reality checkswake-up call, eye-opener, moment of truth, sobering moment
- harsh realitiesbitter truth, hard truth, home truth, brutal honesty, wake-up call
- disillusionmentdisillusionment, disenchantment, disillusion, lost innocence, lost faith
harsh realitywishful thinking
Belief shaped by desire
fantasy · delusion · illusion · pipe dream · fairy tale
harsh, harshly, harshness, harsher, harshest, reality, real, realism, realist