sternadjective
uk/stɜːn/us/stɝːn/C2 severe, or showing disapproval:
a stern look/warning/voice
She is her own sternest critic.
Journalists received a stern warning not to go anywhere near the battleship.
If something, such as a job, is stern, it is difficult:
The country's president is facing the sternest test of his authority since he came to power five years ago.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Severe
- an iron hand/fist in a velvet glove idiom
- austere
- authoritarian
- be heavy on sb idiom
- disciplinarian
- hard
- harsh
- heavy
- iron
- pitiless
- rigour
- roundly
- rule sth with an iron hand/fist idiom
- severe
- sharp
- stiffly
- strict
- strictly
- strictness
- take a hard line on sb/sth idiom
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Complicated and difficult to do
sternness
noun [ U ] uk/ˈstɜːn.nəs/us/ˈstɝːn.nəs/
Idiom(s)
made of sterner stuff
sternnoun [ C ]
uk/stɜːn/us/stɝːn/the back part of a ship or boat
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bow noun
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Parts of ships & boats
- abaft
- boathook
- boiler room
- capstan
- echo sounder
- engine room
- gangplank
- gunnel
- helm
- jib
- lanyard
- lifebelt
- mast
- oar
- paddle
- porthole
- rib
- rudder
- sail
- tiller
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