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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

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” ( 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

In their January show, Cruz and Stern had to re-create the entirety of “Heated Rivalry” from memory, even though Cruz had only seen a few episodes and Stern had seen none.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

And not just by just one-tenth of a percent, points out William Silber, the former Marcus Nadler professor of finance and economics at NYU’s Stern School of Business.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

On this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode of Amicus, co-host Mark Joseph Stern discussed Thursday’s decision with Madiba Dennie, deputy editor of Balls and Strikes and author of The Originalism Trap.

From Slate • May 15, 2026

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, which represents 141 universities, said they were "grateful" to the government for increasing fees in line with inflation in England.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

His accountant, Itzhak Stern, thought that Schindler committed to saving Jews after he witnessed the mass killings during the liquidation of the Kraków ghetto.

From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson

Related Words

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