1
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
the army post's stern commander always had the utmost respect of those who served under him
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
a stern receptionist took our names without even looking up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of stern
Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025
Hogging occurs when a ship sails directly over the top of a large wave, which leaves its bow and its stern suspended in the air.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2025
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
Or when the sternest tests of the characters’ character might arrive.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stern
Adjective
Its stern slid down the launch slipway, while its bow section failed to leave the ramp.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025
Hogging occurs when a ship sails directly over the top of a large wave, which leaves its bow and its stern suspended in the air.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
As Van Helsing, Titus Welliver gives a commanding, dead-eyed and stern performance while Brady Hepner as older son Max curries our sympathies for having to endure the tyranny of an obsessed father.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
Or when the sternest tests of the characters’ character might arrive.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stern
Adjective
-
For example, in sales, if a customer wants a certain number of licenses but has a strict budget, an agent can help figure out the best deal by looking at things like license count, budget limits and different contract lengths (like one-, two- or three-year terms).—
Ian Gotts,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
Anna Marson, a former Tuscany regional minister who now teaches urban planning at a university in Venice, was closely involved in putting forward a plan to impose stricter environmental regulations on the region’s marble quarries in 2014.—
Meara Sharma,
The Dial,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Audiences can often sense the corporate overlords’ gruff hands pushing these previously distinct programs together.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 July 2025
-
On the other hand, the 73-year-old Belichick’s gruff persona, with his monosyllabic utterances at news conferences, has become the stuff of legend.—
Bruce Feldman,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Inside was an open-plan kitchen, new bathrooms, exposed beams, a laundry room, floor-to-ceiling windows and a second-floor, street-facing balcony.—
Thomas Fuller,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
-
Palm trees act as a privacy buffer at the front of the double-gated home, while four rows of vertical wooden beams, presented to dramatic effect by golden uplighting, make a bold first impression from the driveway.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
The harsh reality is this: not all cell phone forensic extractions are created equal, and the most important evidence for trucking cases on the smartphone will be gone in days or weeks.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Late-night talk shows across the board are facing the harsh reality that declines in ad revenue can’t make up for burgeoning production costs.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
The two have one of the fiercest rivals in college football known as the Iron Bowl.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
-
He’s also ruled out the Chinese mainland due to fierce competition, entrenched EV incumbents, and a power grid so advanced that ultra-fast charging is widely available—making battery swapping largely unnecessary.—
Clay Chandler,
Fortune,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
While Western democracies debate environmental reviews and grid reliability, authoritarian systems can rapidly direct energy flows to computing infrastructure.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
North Korea is under sanctions from the United States — as well as the United Nations and several other countries — largely in response to the isolated authoritarian state's weapons programs.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
While McArthur was being interviewed by investigators, search teams made a grim discovery: a portion of a human skull was found sticking out of the ground, encased in concrete and potting soil.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
19 July 2025
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The grim task, using strategies including hand-sifting and specific diving techniques, is expected to drag on for months.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
18 July 2025
Adjective
-
The tougher policy changes are adding to the minors’ trauma, advocates say.—
Nicol León,
AZCentral.com,
22 July 2025
-
The trio had no phone signal to call for help, due to being so far down in the cave, and so Kate made the tough decision to leave the boys to find help.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stern. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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