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• stern
  stern

  adjective

  firm, strict, or uncompromising.
• Stern
  Stern

  noun

  Isaac, 1920–2001, U.S. violinist, born in Russia.
• stern-
  stern-

  variant of sterno- before a vowel.

stern

¹ American  

[sturn] / stɜrn /

adjective

sterner, sternest

1. firm, strict, or uncompromising.

   stern discipline.

   Synonyms:

   unfeeling, cruel, unsympathetic, unrelenting, adamant

   Antonyms:

   lenient

2. hard, harsh, or severe.

   a stern reprimand.

   Synonyms:

   unfeeling, cruel, unsympathetic, unrelenting, adamant

3. rigorous or austere; of an unpleasantly serious character.

   stern times.

4. grim or forbidding in aspect.

   a stern face.

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stern ² American  

[sturn] / stɜrn /

noun

sterns plural

1. the after or rear part of a vessel (often opposed to bow orstem ).

   The ship's stern was a glory of brightly painted carved figures of knights and mythical beasts.

2. the back or rear of anything.

3. Astronomy. Stern, the constellation Puppis.

4. Fox Hunting. the tail of a hound.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to be the person paddling, steering, working, etc., at the rear of (a vessel).

   When you're bird-watching, it's much better to be paddling up front than sterning the canoe.

2. to propel or steer (a vessel) with the after or rear part leading.

   We pulled up to the dock 15 minutes later and managed to stern in before dark.

Stern ³ American  

[sturn] / stɜrn /

noun

1. Isaac, 1920–2001, U.S. violinist, born in Russia.

2. Otto, 1888–1969, U.S. physicist, born in Germany: Nobel Prize 1943.

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stern- ⁴ American  

1. variant of sterno- before a vowel.

   sternite.

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stern ¹ British  

/ stɜːn /

adjective

1. showing uncompromising or inflexible resolve; firm, strict, or authoritarian

2. lacking leniency or clemency; harsh or severe

3. relentless; unyielding

   the stern demands of parenthood

4. having an austere or forbidding appearance or nature

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stern ² British  

/ stɜːn /

noun

1. the rear or after part of a vessel, opposite the bow or stem

2. the rear part of any object

3. the tail of certain breeds of dog, such as the foxhound or beagle

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adjective

1. relating to or located at the stern

Stern ³ British  

/ stɜːn /

noun

1. Isaac. 1920–2001, US concert violinist, born in (what is now) Ukraine

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stern Idioms  

1. see from soup to nuts (stem to stern).

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Synonym Usage

Stern, severe, harsh agree in referring to methods, aspects, manners, or facial expressions. Stern implies uncompromising, inflexible firmness, and sometimes a hard, forbidding, or withdrawn aspect or nature: a stern parent. Severe implies strictness, lack of sympathy, and a tendency to impose a hard discipline on others: a severe judge. Harsh suggests a great severity and roughness, and cruel, unfeeling treatment of others: a harsh critic.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• sternness
  noun
• sternly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sterns
  plural

Etymology

Origin of stern¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English styrne

Origin of stern²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sterne, probably from Old Norse stjōrn “steering” ( see sternpost)

Explanation

You know when you've done something really wrong, and the person who gets you in trouble has that unforgiving look on his face? The best word for that look is stern, meaning "strict" or "severe." Stern, strict, severe, harsh, unforgiving — they all more or less mean the same thing, which is very tough and exacting, with a little helping of seriousness thrown in for good measure. What does this have to do with the stern of a boat, also known as the rear area? Um, nothing? But it's good to know about that meaning too, since it could come in handy some day when you're giving directions on a ship.

Example Sentences

“She had red hair like —” Robin prompts in the manner of a stern third-grade teacher.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026

Ranked 11th in the world, Croatia will once more provide a stern test for England in Wednesday's Group L opener.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

"We have been asked to leave immediately, or the government will take stern action," said Hasina, 45, who worked at construction sites in Kolkata after entering India six years ago.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

Warren Goldstein, chief rabbi of the Union of Orthodox Synagogues of South Africa, used the occasion to deliver a stern reply to Pope Leo.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

He gives me a stern look and waits for my reply.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Related Words

• flinty
• grim
• hard-nosed
• harsh
• rigid
• steely
• strict
• tough