sternward

adverb

ˈstərn-wərd How to pronounce sternward (audio)
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sternward
  1. backward
  2. behind
  3. back
  4. aft
Adverb
  • The real winners are focused on whether the tools are actually improving business outcomes, starting with the customer and working backwards to identify where the tech can make the biggest impact.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The officer stops at the pillar between the car’s windows, such that the driver must crane their neck backward to make eye contact and could only open fire awkwardly.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of backward
Adverb
  • But what her father left out of his memoir and Duong captured in her film was the untold torment of Ba leaving his mother, Nguyen Thị Bay, or grandmother Ba Noi, and close relatives behind in their ancestral village in Vietnam.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Hintz, who tore his hamstring in two places last season, was moving gingerly when behind helped off the ice, but returned a few minutes later.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of behind
Adverb
  • But Gaston and others blame the downfall of Red Lobster on events that date much further back.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Dilesh also owns the French fashion house Patou — which LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton sold back to him this summer — and Designer Parfums.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of back
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
  • Bars and Restaurants The best seat in the house was aft, on the Lido deck, soaking up the Mediterranean sunshine with a flute of Champagne.
    — Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2023
Definition of aft
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

sterns
sternward
Stetson
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sternward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sternward. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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