harsh; severe; pitiless; describes requirements or conditions that are too strict or demanding

to make excessive demands; to be overly critical or exacting

severe and harsh; strict and demanding

to criticize harshly or find fault with someone too strictly; to excoriate

numerous and heavy taxes and levies

(literary) cruel and oppressive rule, characterized by heavy taxes and harsh laws

caustic soda; sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

to treat cruelly; to be harsh and oppressive

A general term for alkali metal hydroxides, typically referring to sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide; highly corrosive to materials like skin, wool, and paper.

caustic potash; potassium hydroxide KOH

(of regulations, taxes, or laws) numerous and burdensome; petty and harassing

a cruel or harsh government official

The act or habit of excessively harsh and minute scrutiny for flaws

to treat someone in a harsh or unkind manner; to maltreat

(chemistry) caustic; causticity

A white solid obtained by evaporating an electrolyzed salt solution; examples include caustic soda or caustic potash

sodium hydroxide, a strong alkaline compound used in various industrial processes

exorbitant taxes or fees

(literary) tyrannical government and heavy taxes are more cruel and fearsome than a wild beast; oppressive rule is worse than a tiger

(bound form) exorbitant and miscellaneous taxes and levies, short for [[苛捐杂税|苛捐雜稅|ke1 juan1 za2 shui4]]

laws that are excessively strict, severe, or overly detailed

improperly severe or lenient; failing to maintain a proper standard of discipline or law enforcement

rigorous and troublesome; nitpicking and petty; detailed and burdensome

excessive ceremony or formality; over-detailed and troublesome social etiquette

literary; harsh and obsessively detailed; severe and trivial in a demanding way

harsh or severe criticism

To remove or cancel an oppressive law, tax, or government policy.