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
Yet behind his sternness lived a man of reflection and sensitivity, whose words and verses hinted at a gentleness rarely shown.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sternness
severity
Noun
-
Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, but no further information on the nature or severity of the injuries was available, Kelley said.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
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While the court handed down several years in prison, the family said the outcome doesn't match the severity of the crime.—
Madeleine Wright,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sternness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sternness. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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