stern

Jannik Sinner's tricky start to his Wimbledon title defence continued as he overcame a stern second-round test against Nuno Borges.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

Goosebumps blossomed on my skin as Mexico’s head coach Javier Aguirre, he of a stern face and gray haircut worthy of a drill sergeant, beamed while singing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

Ranked 11th in the world, Croatia will once more provide a stern test for England in Wednesday's Group L opener.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

History serves as a stern reminder that key straits have always been used for leverage.

From Barron's ● May 22, 2026

She frowns at me like a stern teacher.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Navy said Revolutionary Guard vessels repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns of several American ships at close range and high speed in the northern Gulf.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 22, 2020

With the sterns half-ashore, breakers could then cut in and dismantle the ships laterally, as a snacker might eat through a baguette.

From The Guardian ● May 2, 2017

Thousands of office workers rush past it every day without noticing its three bay windows carved as the sterns of baroque frigates, complete with waves, dolphins and trailing seaweed.

From New York Times ● Feb. 27, 2015

In thunderous assembly shops men welded the shapes into ships' bows, sterns, houses, sections of hull � 35-50-ton assemblies which giant cranes lifted and placed on trucks.

From Time Magazine Archive

The fog was closing over the two ships, curling over their sterns and sails.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

Fireworks can frighten animals and send them scattering, but Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets apparently are made of sterner stuff.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

Rosenior will face a sterner test in his first home game on Wednesday when Chelsea host Premier League leaders Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final first leg.

From Barron's ● Jan. 10, 2026

But it remains to be seen whether this president and the country he leads are ready for the sterner tests to come.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2025

Almost everything we associate him with—the North Pole, the sled, the reindeer—is a 19th-century confection laid on top of a much older and sterner figure.

From Slate ● Dec. 15, 2024

Jeyne covered her eyes whenever a man fell, like a frightened little girl, but Sansa was made of sterner stuff.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

The blockage in the Persian Gulf poses the sternest test the reserves have ever faced.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 9, 2026

PSG come into the sternest test yet of their European title defence top of the French Ligue 1 and with three wins from three so far in the league phase.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2025

In death penalty cases, the legal system is put to its sternest test.

From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2025

Everton's Jordan Pickford is rightly established as England's first choice, but Palace goalkeeper Henderson gave the sort of mature display on the big stage that confirms he will provide the sternest competition.

From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2025

A guidance counselor came by and gave Kitty her sternest voice and shook several of her fingers at her.

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers