STERNNESS Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

sternness

noun

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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Example Sentences

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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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sternness

severity

Noun

However, the show downplays the severity of the incident and most crucially the fact that a child was present and injured in the melee.

— Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
The record high levels of greenhouse gases in the air are also why so many extreme events, from heat waves to floods, are now occurring with greater regularity and severity.

— Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026