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

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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Related Words

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

• sternly adverb
• sternness noun

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” ( sternpost )

Example Sentences

The challenge comes just as investors’ appetite for risk, and sentiment regarding tech stocks, face their sternest tests since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022.

From Barron's

Christopher saw Irian watching, the hint of a smile at her mouth, as six stern seamstresses circled the Berserker with pins.

From Literature

A stern woman in a red sweater drops a new stack of Enigma messages into the tray on my desk.

From Literature

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

From Literature

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

From BBC

Related Words

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