Definitions

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.

In this week’s Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern are joined by Andrea Flores, founder of Securing America’s Promise, to unpack a slate of Supreme Court opinions.

From Slate • Jul. 2, 2026

My name is Julian, a rising senior at the NYU Stern School of Business, and I’ve been interning at MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

Stern that celebrates the nation’s history and governance—launches with “Democracy Matters.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026

In 2008, he spoke to Stern again about Simpson, saying he wanted to put him on The Apprentice.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

Stern now was Éomer’s mood, and his mind clear again.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Vocabulary lists containing stern

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