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.

His expression was stern, reflecting his insistence all week that he would treat the contest seriously.

From BBC

The mother is more forgiving and less stern.

From The Wall Street Journal

Two-time champion Anderson, 54, was given a stern examination by world number 84 Hunt but the Flying Scotsman was able to battle back from 2-1 down to progress.

From BBC

The stern ramps can withstand heavy waves and weight, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Making space for a third row of seats often throws off the upright stance and two-box proportions that characterize SUV designs, leaving a lot of them looking awkwardly elongated, slab-sided or overheavy at the stern.

From The Wall Street Journal

stern

Example Sentences

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