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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.

She earns her nickname because of an innate “loftiness” that makes her “stately and stern but present.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

"We wanted to face African opposition before we play Morocco in the summer and I'm sure Côte d'Ivoire will give us a really stern test," Clarke said.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

There was the neatly coiffed hair, the nicely fitting suit, the smartly positioned tie, even the painfully stern expression from a guy who left no doubt who was running the show.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

Hearts were stunned by the sucker punch from Yang, but these guys are made of stern stuff.

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026

Her words were stern, but the expression on her face wasn’t anger.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.