stern

[sturn] / stɜrn /

ADJECTIVE

serious, authoritarian

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flinty grim hard-nosed harsh rigid steely strict tough

STRONG

ascetic astringent bitter forbidding rough

WEAK

austere bullheaded by the book cruel disciplinary dyed-in-the-wool frowning hang-tough hard hard-boiled hard-core hard-line hard-shell hardheaded implacable inexorable inflexible mortified mulish relentless rigorous severe stiff-necked stubborn unrelenting unsparing unyielding

Antonyms

STRONGEST

easy flexible gentle kind lenient nice soft yielding

STRONG

bland mild

WEAK

cheerful funny light smiling tolerant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

American presidents have issued stern warnings to the country’s adversaries before.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

She earns her nickname because of an innate “loftiness” that makes her “stately and stern but present.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Cox initially had a three strike rule for customers, but Sony alleged the company watered down its consequences for infringers to just a stern warning over time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

"There's always a time and place for stern words and now we take a breather," Murphy said.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

He was stern, as an elder should be, but always welcoming.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

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