sternly

[sturn-lee] / ˈstɜrn li /

ADVERB

seriously

Synonyms

STRONGEST

actively earnestly passionately sincerely vigorously

STRONG

gravely

WEAK

all joking aside cool it cut the comedy determinedly down fervently for real in all conscience in all seriousness in earnest intently purposefully resolutely sedately simmer down soberly solemnly straighten out thoughtfully with a straight face with forethought with sobriety zealously

Antonyms

WEAK

casually funnily lightly minor trivially

ADVERB

severely

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acutely badly critically dangerously extremely firmly markedly painfully seriously sharply sorely strictly

STRONG

gravely hard

WEAK

hardly intensely rigorously roughly with an iron hand

Antonyms

STRONGEST

mildly

WEAK

compassionately lightly

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.

Coming down sternly against the fake judgements, the top court last Friday stayed the lower court's order on the property dispute.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

Faithful ally Eric Nam sternly points out to him that his rants are throwing off everyone else’s game.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2026

“That argument surprises me,” he told Sauer sternly, before reeling off passages from the ruling that undercut Trump’s position—including its warning that the case carries “little precedential value for subsequent cases.”

From Slate • Nov. 5, 2025

But Mr. Lanthimos’s vision is sternly compelling, and “Bugonia” is that exceptional movie that’s extremely hard to forget.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

Standing behind the counter, he spoke sternly as I came towards him.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

sternly

Example Sentences

Related Words