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.

Jannik Sinner's tricky start to his Wimbledon title defence continued as he overcame a stern second-round test against Nuno Borges.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

His dry sense of humour shone through at press conferences, far from the serious and stern Clarke which returned post-Brazil.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2026

Goosebumps blossomed on my skin as Mexico’s head coach Javier Aguirre, he of a stern face and gray haircut worthy of a drill sergeant, beamed while singing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2026

"On May 4, two unidentified aircraft struck the outer plate of the port-side ballast tank at the stern of the HMM Namu at roughly one-minute intervals, causing flames and smoke," he said.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

Likewise, her stern instruction now was unlikely to help him resist the chickens.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Vocabulary lists containing stern

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List 6

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