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
-
Internal bleeding covers a wide range of severity, from life-threatening injuries to bruising.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
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Moore said the department has since adjusted both its tactics and decision-making protocols for wildland fires, particularly in high fire severity zones.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sternness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sternness. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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