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.

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

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

He listened with wide eyes and a stern face as Delilah complained about a years-long light-rail project in front of Alta Baja “that has been worse for businesses here than COVID.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

Pyongyang’s recent advances drew a stern warning this week from Rafael Grossi, the United Nations’ atomic chief.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

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

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

Mama Woof gave a stern series of yelps, and the other wolves took up the cry.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

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