stern

1
[ sturn ]
/ stɜrn /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR stern ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, stern·er, stern·est.

firm, strict, or uncompromising: stern discipline.
hard, harsh, or severe: a stern reprimand.
rigorous or austere; of an unpleasantly serious character: stern times.
grim or forbidding in aspect: a stern face.

Origin of stern

1
before 1000; Middle English; Old English styrne

SYNONYMS FOR stern

1, 2 adamant, unrelenting, unsympathetic, cruel, unfeeling. Stern, severe, harsh agree in referring to methods, aspects, manners, or facial expressions. Stern implies uncompromising, inflexible firmness, and sometimes a hard, forbidding, or withdrawn aspect or nature: a stern parent. Severe implies strictness, lack of sympathy, and a tendency to impose a hard discipline on others: a severe judge. Harsh suggests a great severity and roughness, and cruel, unfeeling treatment of others: a harsh critic.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR stern ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM stern

stern·ly, adverb stern·ness, noun

Words nearby stern

sterling area, sterling bloc, sterling heights, sterling silver, sterlitamak, stern, stern chaser, stern drive, stern sheets, stern, isaac, stern-

Definition for stern (2 of 4)

stern 2
[ sturn ]
/ stɜrn /

noun

the after part of a vessel (often opposed to stem).
the back or rear of anything.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Puppis.
Fox Hunting. the tail of a hound.

Origin of stern

2
1250–1300; Middle English sterne, probably < Old Norse stjōrn steering (done aft; see sternpost)

Definition for stern (3 of 4)

Stern
[ sturn ]
/ stɜrn /

noun

Isaac,1920–2001, U.S. violinist, born in Russia.
Otto,1888–1969, U.S. physicist, born in Germany: Nobel prize 1943.

Definition for stern (4 of 4)

stern-

variant of sterno- before a vowel: sternite.

Words related to stern

tough, harsh, flinty, hard-nosed, strict, rigid, grim, steely, forbidding, rough, astringent, bitter, ascetic, austere, bullheaded, cruel, disciplinary, dyed-in-the-wool, hard, hard-boiled

Example sentences from the Web for stern

British Dictionary definitions for stern (1 of 3)

stern 1
/ (stɜːn) /

adjective

showing uncompromising or inflexible resolve; firm, strict, or authoritarian
lacking leniency or clemency; harsh or severe
relentless; unyielding the stern demands of parenthood
having an austere or forbidding appearance or nature

Derived forms of stern

sternly, adverb sternness, noun

Word Origin for stern

Old English styrne; related to Old High German stornēn to alarm, Latin sternāx stubborn, Greek stereos hard

British Dictionary definitions for stern (2 of 3)

stern 2
/ (stɜːn) /

noun

the rear or after part of a vessel, opposite the bow or stem
the rear part of any object
the tail of certain breeds of dog, such as the foxhound or beagle

adjective

relating to or located at the stern

Word Origin for stern

C13: from Old Norse stjōrn steering; see steer 1

British Dictionary definitions for stern (3 of 3)

Stern
/ (stɜːn) /

noun

Isaac. 1920–2001, US concert violinist, born in (what is now) Ukraine

Idioms and Phrases with stern

stern

see from soup to nuts (stem to stern).