variants or sternwards
Definition of sternwardnext
as in backward
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sternward
Adverb
  • The massive horse – the biggest in the race – reared up as he was being led to the starting gate and flipped over backward, tossing his jockey Alex Achard to the ground.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
  • Per the authors, when dolphins flap their tails up and down, the kicking motion pushes water backward and produces swirling currents of varying sizes.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
Adverb
  • But the borrowers who have fallen behind on their debt payments are at risk of even higher stress levels once the debt collection process escalates beyond calls and letters and into the legal system.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 May 2026
  • In babies, the measles virus can also cause a rare condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, or SSPE — when a weakened form of the disease remains behind even after symptoms seem to clear.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Adverb
  • Overall, among Catholic Americans who have seen this feud become the most contentious relationship between a secular leader and the papacy dating back to medieval times, the pope's favorability climbs to 61%, the poll said.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 7 May 2026
  • That injury proved to be a turning point in that series, as the Pacers rallied back from an 0-2 deficit to win it in seven games.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
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
  • Open exterior decks forward and aft allow for a steady sea breeze, as the owner—who was last aboard his yacht in the summer of 2021—used to regularly enjoy.
    Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sternward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sternward. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster