as in severity
the quality or state of being demanding or unyielding (as in discipline or criticism)
the company's new president has a reputation for granitelike sternness and monkish austerity
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Recent Examples of sternness
Saura had a large sense of the humor, which struck those who got to know him, belying the sternness of his public visage with his playful banter and frequent chuckle.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sternness
severity
Noun
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Jamie Lynn Spears is opening up about the severity of her daughter's 2017 near-fatal ATV accident.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
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At the time, the severity of the ruling reflected the enormous scale of Lan’s fraud as well as efforts by authorities to restore investor trust.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sternness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sternness. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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