1In a serious and severe manner, especially when asserting authority or exercising discipline.
he sternly warned me to not do anything stupid
the government will deal sternly with illegal strikes
Example sentencesExamples
- You are better off dealing sternly with problem employees than continuing to bear the pain.
- He told prosecutors he was disturbed by the accusations and sternly demanded an explanation.
- Michael said sternly, "I'll give them five more minutes."
- The butler sternly points her to the back door.
- They stopped a young man on the road and sternly repeated their warning.
- 1.1 In a way that is difficult and puts extreme pressure on someone or something.
a fight had ensued, which sternly tested my peace-making skills
being sternly challenged came with the territory as defending champions
Example sentencesExamples
- They should be sternly tried by human conscience for having slandered us with all sorts of lies and plots.
- His method yields a collection more sternly systematic than Smith's.
- The breakdowns which have been reported will be sternly investigated.
- The subject matter seems unlikely to appeal to the party's sternly conservative grass roots.
- His symphony is patchy in both structure and content but its sentiments are held sternly in check.