variants or sternwards
as in backwards
near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft a flight attendant hurried sternward to attend to the disturbance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sternward
Adverb
  • Arizona will have to do so without Corbin Carroll, who is working his way back from injury, and get a tough series opener with Logan Webb taking the mound for the Giants.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • Today, there are only four left, but back in the day there were many to ride the streets and the alleys of Baltimore.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 30 June 2025
Adverb
  • Starboy Appears on Multiple Charts Most of The Weeknd’s albums are sliding backward across the charts in America this week.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • Since Donald Trump took office, the retail giant has been bending over backward to avoid offending White House shoppers, canceling its DEI initiatives, pulling out of Pride event sponsorships and — the lowest blow — drastically scaling back its once outrageously colorful Pride Month merchandise.
    Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2025
Adverb
  • Also of note is the Dusk Bar, which sits aft on Deck 10 and is stocked with interesting spirits.
    David Swanson, Travel + Leisure, 27 May 2024
  • Bars and Restaurants The best seat in the house was aft, on the Lido deck, soaking up the Mediterranean sunshine with a flute of Champagne.
    Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Sternward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sternward. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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