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Definition of stern
1a : having a definite hardness or severity of nature or manner : austereb : expressive of severe displeasure : harsh
2 : forbidding or gloomy in appearance
3 : inexorable stern necessity
sternly
adverbFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of stern in a Sentence
He gave me a stern look.
the army post's stern commander always had the utmost respect of those who served under him
Recent Examples of stern from the Web
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Bunbury Theatre show centers on ninety-year-old rosarian Edith Jones, who is pressured by her stern brother-in-law to sell her home and give it to the church.
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The party faces a stern test in a Tokyo assembly election early next month.
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Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West got a stern letter from TriMet after apparently cashing in on a piece of vintage Portland.
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The boat’s stern was submerged and the bow was raised out of the water on Tuesday morning.
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But its defense faces a stern test against a side boosted by a recent 5-0 home win over Paraguay.
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There's also a 620kW stern thruster that can push the rear of the ship left or right.
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This drew another stern response from Shaub, reasserting his agency’s legal mandate and the necessity of maintaining an outside arbiter of ethics within the executive branch.
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Roberson confronted the robber at Fayette and Howard streets and, employing stern countenance and rhetorical powers of persuasion, got Dr. Padousis’s wallet back.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stern'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of stern
Middle English sterne, from Old English styrne; akin to Old English starian to stare — more at stare
Synonym Discussion of stern
stern
Definition of stern
1 : the rear end of a boat
2 : a hinder or rear part : the last or latter part
Recent Examples of stern from the Web
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After two minutes of dipping and diving and to and fro, Houser had the fish to the stern of the boat.
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In danger of swamping, coxswain Jim Bartlett quickly handed emergency buckets to the four oarsmen in the stern of the boat.
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The bow, or nose, of the boat pitches up while the stern, or rear, tends to ride deeper into the water.
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In this undated underwater image provided by NOAA, a fish swims past a circular skylight collapsed inside the officer’s quarters in the stern of the shipwreck USCG Cutter McCulloch.
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Williams, dressed as a pirate, walked stealthily up from the stern.
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Sterns, a 2018 prospect, flipped his commitment from LSU to Texas and made the news official via Twitter.
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H.M.S Erebus was discovered in relatively shallow water and almost perfectly preserved, except for the stern, which had been bitten away, probably by ice.
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The stern is important because that’s where Franklin’s cabin was.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stern'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of stern
Middle English, rudder, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse stjōrn steering, rudder; akin to Old English stīeran to steer — more at steer
Stern
playDefinition of Stern
Isaac 1920–2001 American (Russian-born) violinist
Stern
Definition of Stern
Otto 1888–1969 American (German-born) physicist
STERN Defined for English Language Learners
stern
playDefinition of stern for English Language Learners
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: very serious especially in an unfriendly way
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: expressing strong disapproval or criticism
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: not likely to change or become weaker
stern
Definition of stern for English Language Learners
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: the back part of a boat or ship
STERN Defined for Kids
Definition of stern for Students
sterner
;sternest
1 : hard and severe in nature or manner : very strict and serious a stern judge a stern warning
2 : showing severe displeasure or disapproval The elder's stern expression softened. — Brian Jacques, Redwall
3 : firm and not changeable She showed stern determination to succeed.
sternly
adverb speak sternlyLearn More about stern
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See words that rhyme with stern Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stern Spanish Central: Translation of stern Nglish: Translation of stern for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stern for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stern
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