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, cruel, unrelenting, adamant, unfeeling

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

He opens up to Marlow Stern about music, Hollywood, and more.

From The Daily Beast

Buress went on The Howard Stern Show to talk about the Cosby story.

From The Daily Beast

But at the end of the day, as a governor, you have to be stern and there are decisions you have to make.

From The Daily Beast

I like to end columns with a potential policy fix, some kind of suggested action, or at least a stern finger-wagging.

From The Daily Beast

After a stern media backlash, Dunham decided to pay her opening acts and, predictably, all was forgiven.

From The Daily Beast

He had meted out stern justice to his own son, when he had banished big Reginald to South America; but he had his virtues.

From Project Gutenberg

Her stern was towards him, and all he saw of her was the ironical legend, “Cure your Corns.”

From Project Gutenberg

As it came near, it proved to be the clock, with a sail hoisted, and the Goblin sitting complacently in the stern.

From Project Gutenberg

As he read, a look of surprise came over his face, and then his countenance grew stern and grim.

From Project Gutenberg

As Louis spoke with the stern calmness of a divorced heart, Wharton became other than he had ever seen him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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