stern

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈstɜːn/ 🇺🇸 /ˈstɜrn/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Serious and unrelenting, especially in the assertion of authority or discipline; strict and severe.; Having a harsh or forbidding appearance or manner.; Difficult to endure; harsh or severe in nature.
  2. noun
    The rear or aft part of a ship or boat.; The buttocks or hindquarters (informal or humorous usage).

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: sterns Comparative: sterner, more stern Superlative: sternest, most stern

Collocations

stern warningstern lookstern voicestern measuresfrom stem to sternstern expression

Derivatives

sternlysternness

Synonyms

strictsevereharshaustererigiduncompromising

Antonyms

lenientgentlemildsoft

Commonly confused

stem
EN: 'Stem' is the front (bow) part of a ship or a plant stalk; 'stern' is the rear part of a ship.
sternum
EN: 'Sternum' is the breastbone (anatomical term from Latin); it is not derived from 'stern' meaning strict or the rear of a ship.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'stern' (strict; rear of a ship) with 'sternum' (breastbone), which has a different etymology and an extra syllable.

💬 Examples

  1. The teacher gave the students a stern warning about cheating.

  2. His stern face betrayed no emotion as he read the verdict.

  3. The pioneers faced the stern realities of frontier life.

  4. The captain stood at the stern, watching the harbor recede.

  5. He landed on his stern after slipping on the ice.