stern

¹

[ sturn ]

adjective

, stern·er, stern·est.

1. firm, strict, or uncompromising:

   stern discipline.

   Synonyms: unsympathetic, unfeeling, cruel, unrelenting, adamant

   Antonyms: lenient

2. hard, harsh, or severe:

   a stern reprimand.

   Synonyms: unsympathetic, unfeeling, cruel, unrelenting, adamant

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

   stern times.

4. grim or forbidding in aspect:

   a stern face.

stern

²

[ sturn ]

noun

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

   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. Stern, Astronomy. the constellation Puppis.
4. Fox Hunting. the tail of a hound.

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

[ sturn ]

noun

1. Isaac, 1920–2001, U.S. violinist, born in Russia.
2. Otto, 1888–1969, U.S. physicist, born in Germany: Nobel Prize 1943.

stern-

⁴

1. variant of sterno- before a vowel:

   sternite.

stern

¹

/ 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

adjective

1. relating to or located at the stern

Stern

²

/ stɜːn /

noun

1. SternIsaac19202001MUSRussianMUSIC: concert violinist Isaac. 1920–2001, US concert violinist, born in (what is now) Ukraine

stern

³

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈsternness, noun
• ˈsternly, adverb

Other Words From

• stern·ly adverb
• stern·ness noun

Word History and Origins

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of stern¹

C13: from Old Norse stjōrn steering; see steer ¹

Origin of stern²

Old English styrne; related to Old High German stornēn to alarm, Latin sternāx stubborn, Greek stereos hard

Idioms and Phrases

see from soup to nuts (stem to stern) .

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

WBO champion Billam-Smith was the first to make his way to the ring at the Venue arena, a stern look on his face as he completed a lap of the canvas with his arm raised.

From BBC

Dressed in his trademark all black, he strutted to the ring sporting the same stern look he has had all week.

From BBC

There will be sterner tests of Trump’s power on Capitol Hill to come, notably when confirmation hearings are held for his more divisive cabinet picks.

From BBC

Lucy Liu is at least adept at playing the stern director of the organization for controlling mythological entities and creatures.

From Los Angeles Times

Traditionally, Washington conveys stern but quiet warnings to adversaries against attempting to try to gain any military advantage from a perceived period of uncertainty, stressing that a changeover does not alter U.S. readiness.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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