Definitions

stern

[sturn] / stɜrn /

ADJECTIVE

serious, authoritarian

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flinty grim hard-nosed harsh rigid steely strict tough

STRONG

ascetic astringent bitter forbidding rough

WEAK

austere bullheaded by the book cruel disciplinary dyed-in-the-wool frowning hang-tough hard hard-boiled hard-core hard-line hard-shell hardheaded implacable inexorable inflexible mortified mulish relentless rigorous severe stiff-necked stubborn unrelenting unsparing unyielding

Antonyms

STRONGEST

easy flexible gentle kind lenient nice soft yielding

STRONG

bland mild

WEAK

cheerful funny light smiling tolerant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Joost van Dreunen, a professor of games business at NYU Stern, argues that unlike books, films or music, many games are built around communities and online interaction.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Suzy Welch, author and professor at New York University Stern School of Business, explains how job seekers can survive in and adapt to the changing landscape.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

Mark Joseph Stern: Prosecutors had tried to conceal these grand jury transcripts from the court, and now we can see why.

From Slate • May 22, 2026

"Is this an amazing company or is it ridiculously overvalued? The answer is yes," quipped Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at NYU Stern.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

The first was a conversation with the distinguished German quantum physicist Otto Stern, a future Nobel laureate who was stopping at Berkeley during the holiday.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Vocabulary lists containing stern

Words Every Pirate Should Know

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

List 6

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!