stern

1
[ sturn ]
/ stɜrn /

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 Stern implies uncompromising, inflexible firmness, and sometimes a hard, forbidding, or withdrawn aspect or nature: a stern parent.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.

OTHER WORDS FROM stern

stern·ly, adverb stern·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for sternly

British Dictionary definitions for sternly (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 sternly (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 sternly (3 of 3)

Stern
/ (stɜːn) /

noun

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

Idioms and Phrases with sternly

stern

see from soup to nuts (stem to stern).