stern
1firm, strict, or uncompromising: stern discipline.
hard, harsh, or severe: a stern reprimand.
rigorous or austere; of an unpleasantly serious character: stern times.
grim or forbidding in aspect: a stern face.
Origin of stern
1synonym study For stern
Other words for stern
Opposites for stern
Other words from stern
- stern·ly, adverb
- stern·ness, noun
Words Nearby stern
Other definitions for stern (2 of 4)
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.
the back or rear of anything.
Stern, Astronomy. the constellation Puppis.
Fox Hunting. the tail of a hound.
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.
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.
Origin of stern
2Other definitions for Stern (3 of 4)
Isaac, 1920–2001, U.S. violinist, born in Russia.
Otto, 1888–1969, U.S. physicist, born in Germany: Nobel Prize 1943.
Other definitions for stern- (4 of 4)
variant of sterno- before a vowel: sternite.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use stern in a sentence
Only hours after tug boats had initially wrenched the stern free, some news outlets reported that strong winds had blown it back to its stuck position across the 205-meter southern section of the canal.
How the Giant Boat Blocking the Suez Canal Was Freed: Dredgers, Tugboats, and a Full Moon | Joseph Hincks | March 29, 2021 | TimeThat disruption appears to have caused the ship to become wedged sideways across the canal, with its bow pressed against the eastern wall and its stern wedged into the canal’s western wall.
How did a ship get stuck in the Suez Canal? | Miriam Berger, Júlia Ledur, Adam Taylor | March 26, 2021 | Washington Poststern said he and fellow legislators wanted public access to all agency documents restored.
Are California Oil Companies Complying With the Law? Even Regulators Often Don’t Know. | by Janet Wilson, The Desert Sun | March 22, 2021 | ProPublicaThey may not even need a host star at all, stern writes, and could exist on wandering planets ejected from their systems.
Extraterrestrial Life Could Be Hiding in Our Galaxy’s Interior Ocean Worlds | Jason Dorrier | March 21, 2021 | Singularity HubIn his report, stern suggests interior ocean worlds have several advantages over exterior ocean worlds, and therefore, if they’re common, it’s far less likely we are alone in the universe—but also, it might be a lot harder to prove the case.
Extraterrestrial Life Could Be Hiding in Our Galaxy’s Interior Ocean Worlds | Jason Dorrier | March 21, 2021 | Singularity Hub
He opens up to Marlow stern about music, Hollywood, and more.
Idris Elba on Eric Garner, ‘Mi Mandela,’ and Selling Weed to Dave Chappelle | Marlow Stern | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBuress went on The Howard stern Show to talk about the Cosby story.
How the World Turned on Bill Cosby: A Day-by-Day Account | Scott Porch | December 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut at the end of the day, as a governor, you have to be stern and there are decisions you have to make.
Wyclef Jean Talks Lauryn Hill, the Yele Haiti Controversy, and Chris Christie | Marlow Stern | November 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI like to end columns with a potential policy fix, some kind of suggested action, or at least a stern finger-wagging.
GOP States’ Hitlist: Abortion, Unions & Hillary | Nancy Kaffer | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAfter a stern media backlash, Dunham decided to pay her opening acts and, predictably, all was forgiven.
Will White Feminists Finally Dump Lena Dunham? | Samantha Allen | November 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe had meted out stern justice to his own son, when he had banished big Reginald to South America; but he had his virtues.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsHer stern was towards him, and all he saw of her was the ironical legend, “Cure your Corns.”
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeAs it came near, it proved to be the clock, with a sail hoisted, and the Goblin sitting complacently in the stern.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. CarrylAs he read, a look of surprise came over his face, and then his countenance grew stern and grim.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. DunnAs Louis spoke with the stern calmness of a divorced heart, Wharton became other than he had ever seen him.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter
British Dictionary definitions for stern (1 of 3)
/ (stɜːn) /
showing uncompromising or inflexible resolve; firm, strict, or authoritarian
lacking leniency or clemency; harsh or severe
relentless; unyielding: the stern demands of parenthood
having an austere or forbidding appearance or nature
Origin of stern
1Derived forms of stern
- sternly, adverb
- sternness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for stern (2 of 3)
/ (stɜːn) /
the rear or after part of a vessel, opposite the bow or stem
the rear part of any object
the tail of certain breeds of dog, such as the foxhound or beagle
relating to or located at the stern
Origin of stern
2British Dictionary definitions for Stern (3 of 3)
/ (stɜːn) /
Isaac. 1920–2001, US concert violinist, born in (what is now) Ukraine
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with stern
see from soup to nuts (stem to stern).
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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